Christian faces execution for refusing to renounce his faith

Why is this not huge news? Please help me to ensure that this becomes really BIG news. Iran needs to be aware this is not going to go away quietly if they go ahead and execute him!

“A man who converted from Islam to Christianity is facing the death penalty in Iran for refusing to return to his former religion. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, 34, of the Church of Iran, faces hanging after refusing a court order to renounce his Christian faith.”

Read more »

Were South African Catholics deliberately setup?

I have often wondered why Catholics in South Africa did not receive adequate catechesis regarding the new English translation of the Roman Missal? No, let me rephrase the question. Why did we receive no catechesis whatsoever, before the new English translation of the Roman Missal was thrust on us in 2008?

Sperm Donor: How dumb can one be?

Artificial Insemination Kit

There are a lot of things in our modern world that we often accept without giving it any real thought. It may be because we are so used to hearing about the tremendous advances that humans continue to make, that we just don't think twice about it. Sperm donation is not new science. It does however have implications that we should consider quite carefully. 

Reverence and Respect of The Blessed Sacrament

Pope Benedict XVI

If you want to get me excited, in fact ecstatic, then you all you need do is direct me to a Catholic newspaper that has published an article like this. It had me dancing and, as anyone who knows me will confirm, for me to dance a little jig, with my almost non-existent lung capacity, takes a lot. Well done to Bishop Doran and well done to the “The Observer”. I hope other Catholic newspapers are taking note of what is good content for a Catholic newspaper. Read the article at source or just continue below.

Do angels really exist?

Archangel St Gabriel

Since today is the Feast Day of the Archangel’s Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, I was giving some thought to the existence of angels. I often get the impression that people don’t really believe in angels. It sometimes strikes me that people often may think of angels in the same way in which they think of Santa Claus. They may speak of angels, but, like Santa Claus, they do not truly believe that angels exist.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL

Missal

The second phase of the implementation of the new English translation of the liturgy in the SACBC Dioceses will be on the 1st Sunday of Advent, 27th November 2011. This phase will see the new translations of the collects, prefaces and Eucharistic prayers come into use.

Read more»»

What would you pay for Murder?

A news reports on Sky News caught my eye today.

The report was about a hospital in the UK, which is taking the National Health Service to court over plans to stop it from performing surgical operating procedures on children with heart defects. “Hospital Tackles NHS In Child Op Dispute” was the title of the report on Sky News.

Story from Jake Coffman

I love this story. It’s an absolute must read!

A worried woman went to her gynaecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. Read more»»

Two secrets to win heaven

The Apostles

We live in a time when our ability to exercise free will has almost completely been disconnected from the real reason that God gave us free will. God does not do anything by accident. If he did, he would not be perfect. Therefore, when God created us in his image, he did so for a very specific reason.

My Book Suggestion: "A biblical walk through the Mass"

There is a wonderful book, written by Dr. Edward Sri, which has been written to help Catholics to understand what we say and do in the Liturgy. The book is titled “A biblical walk through the Mass” and is based on the new English translation of the Mass.

On Leaving The Catholic Church

Pope addresses young Germans

Pope Benedict XVI - Vigil with Youth in Freiburg, Germany

Here is the full text of the address of Pope Benedict XVI to young Germans during the vigil on 24 September 2011 in Freiburg during his 2011 visit to Germany.

We’ll arrest you if you show Bible DVD’s

If anyone is in any doubt that our Christian Faith is under constant attack they need to wake up and smell the coffee. We are slowly and surely being marginalised. Here is a perfect example of how Christian rights are steadily being taken away with little, if any, resistance by Christians.

The Listening Heart: Reflections on the Foundations of Law

Here is the full text of Pope Benedict XVI’s address during his visit to the Bundestag on Thursday, 22 September 2011 where he received a standing ovation:

It is an honour and a joy for me to speak before this distinguished house, before the Parliament of my native Germany, that meets here as a democratically elected representation of the people, in order to work for the good of the Federal Republic of Germany. 

The smoke of Satan

There are many problems in the Catholic Church that might be thought to be the 'smoke of Satan' entering the church, but for my money one thing, above all others, has been the successful work of Satan, which has undermined the church, emasculated her ministry, sabotaged the aims of the Holy Spirit and captured a multitude of souls.

This is an excellent article and I highly recommend that you read more . . .

The Confiteor

Confiteor

We all know the Confiteor, which we say during the Penitential Rite of the Mass, extremely well. I think that I possibly know the Confiteor a bit too well? I may at times rattle it off during Mass, without ever seriously considering the words that I am saying or understanding why I am saying them.

'A Year of Eucharistic renewal'

Eucharistic Adoration

Renewal in Eucharistic spirituality and practice means that Sunday needs to regain its special significance in the life of each Catholic. What does that mean for you and your family?

The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference Pastoral letter calling for 'a Year of Eucharistic renewal' can be read here

Awkward Things Happen Without Faith (By Stacy Trasancos)

St. Thomas Aquinas

Why do we need faith? Why not human reason alone? Several people recently have asked those questions and I found the explanation given by St. Thomas Aquinas in Contra Gentiles straightforward and useful.* Searching for truth is a desire in everyone of us, and searching for God is not an unreasonable search for a bearded bossy man in the sky to relieve us of ever having to think for ourselves. Truth is beautiful. Truth will set you free. Truth is how to know yourself. St. Thomas considered what awkward things would happen if human reason alone were all we needed to search for truth.

Read more . . .

Our Holy Communion Obligation

I was recently engaged in a debate with another Catholic regarding the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays. His point of view was that he was only required to attend Mass once a year during Easter. I disagreed with him, saying that he was only obliged to receive Holy Communion once a year, but that he was obliged to attend Mass on every Sunday and every Feast Day.

Death And Catholic Church Teaching

My wife is an organ donor. I am not! I have always been against her being an organ donor. The funny thing is that, while I have always been anti organ donation, I now find myself in a position where I require a lung transplant. God certainly does work in mysterious ways.

A misguided move by pro-lifers

Fr. Frank Pavone

The controversy surrounding Priests for Life head Father Frank Pavone being recalled to the Diocese of Amarillo has continued to snowball, and a bad situation is rapidly getting worse.

Read more of this article by Scott Alessi...

The Lord be with you

I am thoroughly enjoying the book by Edward Sri titled “A biblical walk through the Mass.” I recommend that everyone should read it. Particularly, in light of all the hype that followed the introduction of the new english translation of the Mass in South Africa.

My thoughts on the suspension of Fr. Frank Pavone

Fr. Frank Pavone

Many will already be aware that Bishop Patrick Zurek, the bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo in Texas, has suspended Fr. Frank Pavone, the National Director of Priests for Life, from active ministry outside of his diocese. Bishop Zurek did so in an open letter to his fellow bishops on 9 September 2011. You can read more here.

Do you dare stand and reach out to touch God . . .

A communicant receives Holy Communion on the tongue while kneeling

The following words, by St Paul to the Church in Corinth, always gives me goose flesh and sends a shiver down my spine whenever I read them: 

Incarnátes Est

Priest kneels, in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, during the Creed while saying the words:
“Et incarnátes est de Spíritu Sancto ex María Virgine, et homo factus est.”

“Et incarnátes est de Spíritu Sancto ex María Virgine, et homo factus est.” These words are taken from the Nicene Creed in Latin and they are translated (in the new english translation of the Mass) – “By the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.”

Making the sign of the Cross

Catholics make the sign of the cross at Mass, before and after their prayers and devotions, or at other times in their daily lives. I was thinking recently that it seems to be a habit, which many people have developed, without much thought about why they are in fact making the sign of the cross. Then it dawned on me that I was one of those people. I realised that if I was asked to explain the meaning of the sign of the cross and its history, I would be unable to do so. To remedy my ignorance, I therefore decided to post something on my Blog about it.

The world needs Humility

Jesus washes the disciples feet

There is a tremendous lack of humility in the world today. At best, we are humble towards those who are perceived to have greater status in society than us, possibly also to those of equal status to us. However, towards those who have a lesser status, how often do we not show any humility towards them whatsoever?

Piers Morgan Stumped

Here is just another example of what Pope Benedict XVI refers to as the Dictatorship of Relativism.

In his interview of United States Presidential candidate, Rick Santorum, Piers Morgan, a supposedly intelligent CNN Talk Show host, states that he is a Catholic. Sadly he then goes on to say, regarding the issue of homosexuality, that we now live in modern world where the Church's views on homosexuality is effectively outdated. Sorry Piers but I think most Catholics would prefer it if you didn't call yourself a Catholic and then, in the same breath, make a statement that opposes the true teaching of the Church.

Overpopulation: The Making of a Myth

2.1 Kids: Stable Population

Food: There's Lots Of It

Wake up and smell the coffee. . .

Burn't Church

There is no doubt that Catholics must realise, sooner rather than later, that the Church is under constant attack. This is not some imagined assault. It is cleverly disguised under various causes, which at face value seem reasonable. They know that a blatant outright attack on the Church will encounter resistance. So, instead, a far more discreet and devious approach is employed to slowly and surely chip away at the Church.

The 'Gospel' of Tolerance: You Must Approve

Tracy Trasancos has been on the receiving end of a great deal of hate comments from homosexual activists because of the comments she made in her blog. I couldn’t do better at showing my support than repeating this post by Jennifer Hartline in Catholic Online on September 6, 2011. You can it read it at source here Jennifer Hartline or read it below:

Is the kettle on?

I have to often remind myself that being a Catholic does not mean only going to Mass every Sunday as prescribed by the Church and doing all the other things that the Church prescribes. It’s not about following rules. If we claim to believe in God and truly love him, this relationship will unavoidably begin to reveal itself in our everyday lives. It is just simply impossible for anyone to truly believe in God and love him, while at the same time, continuing to live a life that is unchanged and focussed only on ones own spiritual, mental and physical well being.

Courage to defend our Catholic Faith

Vatican II

If you want to get my blood pressure going through the roof, all you need to do is join in with the many people who feel it is their God given duty to constantly challenge the Vatican.

Although I don’t like it, I generally do not object too much if this comes from non-Catholics. There could be a number of reasons for them doing so. It could be due to a misunderstanding of our Catholic faith or maybe just plain hostility towards Catholics. The point is that one expects attacks from outside the Church.

The moral difference between Contraception and Natural Family Planning

Many people have difficulty understanding the teaching of the Church with regards contraception. Young people in general seem to have difficulty in understanding what the moral difference is between contraception and Natural Family Planning. I came across this article today which I thought provided a very good explanation of the moral differences between the two.

It was written by Doug McManaman in 2008. Doug is a Deacon and a Religion and Philosophy teacher at Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Read it at source by clicking here or read it below:

Vatican insists it didn't torpedo Irish response to abuse crisis

In an unusually detailed response to recent criticism from the Irish government, the Vatican insisted today that it did not subvert efforts by the Irish bishops to report sexually abusive priests to the police, saying that claims to the contrary by Ireland’s Prime Minister are “unfounded.” Read John Allen’s full report at source by clicking here or see it below:

Church firm on seal of confessional

I recently saw an article titled “Church in Ireland stands firm on seal of confessional”[1] by Sarah Mac Donald. My naturally fiery personality could not help but get me really worked up at this article.

Opposition to Gay Marriage is not discriminatory

If there is one thing that gets my blood pressure up and causes me to froth at the mouth, it is when matters like gay or lesbian marriage, the ordination of woman, abortion, euthanasia and so the list goes on, is made into an issue of prejudice when in fact is not a prejudice but that way for a completely different reason. 

Gather up all the feathers

St Philip Neri

There is a wonderful story about St Philip Neri who had the opportunity to help a woman who was in the habit of gossiping about other people. Her gossip caused many people a great deal of suffering, because she would not hesitate to tell anyone who cared to listen, about the faults and the sins of other people.

Friendship

“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter:

he that has found one has found a treasure.

There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend,

and no scales can measure his excellence”[1]

Recently I watched as David Cameron received a great deal of criticism for appointing his friend, Andy Coulson, as his media adviser. Andy Coulson, it was alleged, had been involved in, or knew about and condoned, the hacking of cell phones.