Happy Birthday, Fr. Count!

Fr. Count and friends at the Columbus Day Bazaar

Last week our dear Fr. Austin Conterno turned 92, God Bless him! He is the eldest of our priests here at Saints Peter and Paul, and you better believe he is still working. A true Son of Don Bosco.

Happy Birthday, Fr. Count, ad multos annos!

Posted by Gibbons (while Fr. John is on retreat).

Good News (I guess)!

San Francisco Catholics who were dismayed to learn that our local Catholic Charities is helping same-sex couple to adopt children will be relieved to learn that Catholic Charities actually accepts no money from the Catholic Church.

At least, that's according to this article in the "Bay Area Reporter" whose motto is "Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, & transgender communities since 1971."

Then what were all those second collections about? And where does one apply for a refund?

Hat tip: Uncle Di.

Posted by Gibbons (while Fr. John is on retreat).

Around the Catholic Web . . .

Amy over at "Open Book" has a beautiful post: "Religion: a Test of Faith"

A sample:

"Christians as individuals betray Christ on a daily basis. Christian institutions do, as well, in small and great ways . . . This is not (as long time readers know) to suggest quiescence or acceptance of sin. It's simply to acknowledge a reality that is as old as the first Pope, huddled in the courtyard, denying Christ by the light of a fire. "

Read the whole thing.


And Quintero over at "LA Catholic" has a beauty, too: "Journalist Chris Weinkopf's Beauriful Tribute to Catholic Priests."

A sample:

"As for the rest of us, with so many bad priests garnering so much attention at the moment, I'd like to say a special thanks to the many, many, good priests who selflessly give of themselves to serve others. The ones who spent their weekends bringing Holy Communion to the sick and dying in hospitals, or sitting in hot confessionals ministering to their flocks; the ones who bring credit to the Church and to God."

Read the whole thing.

Posted by Gibbons (while Fr. John is on retreat).

Good Book

If you are looking for a good book to strengthen your life as Catholic, I suggest you read Thomas Howard’s “On Being Catholic.” Ignatius Press, 1-800-651- 1531. (265 pgs $14.95)

It’s in paperback form and easy to read. Written by a converted fundamentalist, the sixteen chapters will enlighten you as to what “being Catholic” means. What does the Unity of the Church mean? What about the Mass, the Blessed Mother, Catholics and Freedom, etc.

Most of us cradle Catholic think we know our faith, but it is always good to rethink our position and not be enslaved by the danger of traditions lost and devotions forgotten.

Too many Catholics are confused about their faith and need a voice to help them articulate what they have had in their heart for many years but are often at a loss to put into words.

We must spread that God-given faith we have received in baptism.

Thoughts

Just a thought for the day:

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

And another thought:

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

Now I am going on retreat for the next week.

As I listen to the ten sermons, have a little prayer that I take advice from God, rather that try to give it to Him.

And that I can live the sermons preached.

You are all remembered in my prayers.

Anything for a Vote

Too many Catholic politicians want it both ways: the Church should stay out of politics and the Church should support their key issues.

14 Catholic Democrats, who joined together to criticize Pope Benedict's statement that pro-abortion politicians should not receive Communion now urged the bishops to increase their involvement in efforts to end the war in Iraq. The letter was written by Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, for the 14 Catholic politicians.

Strange that these politicians would turn to the Church to support an end of the war in Iraq, certainly a moot moral principle at this time, and not accept a clear moral teaching of the Church regarding abortion.

There remains my quandary: Why would politicians want to be called Catholic, when they criticize the Holy Father, support abortion and then seek the help of the UCCB to promote their political agenda?

Easy answer: anything for a vote.

Bishops, don’t be used

Count Your Blessings

• If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive the week.

• If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.

• If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, or torture of death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

• If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

• If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish some place, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

• If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, even in the United States.

• If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority of us can, but most do not.

• If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

• When you compare our day to day problems with bigger problems around the world our troubles may not seem so large.
-anonymous

IVF & the Wages of Sin

IVF (in vitro fertilization) is to help adults become mothers, fathers. But what about the babies? Should they not have a right to a mother and father who genetically conceived them?

I fear the sins of the fathers will be borne by the children. I do believe that the wages of sin is death. And there is a lot of “sin” connected with IVF. You cannot fool Mother Nature. You may deceive her for the time being, but as the clock ticks doom will follow.

Father John Flynn, L.C. writes an article in Zenit, JULY 23, 2007 (Zenit.org) dealing with invitro fertilization. He remarks that last year a total of 6,174 women in this age group (40 to 45) had fertility treatment, compared with just 596 in 1991. It’s frightening to think where that is going exponentially!

As demand for in vitro fertilization continues to rise, so too are concerns over the clinics and consequences for families. A leading British expert recently had harsh words for the industry, whose methods have long been criticized by the Church.

Strange situations are evolving…. The Canadian newspaper the Ottawa Citizen reported April 18 the case of Melanie Boivin, who donated some of her ova to her daughter, Flavie.The daughter, aged 7, is sterile due to a genetic condition. The article commented that if Flavie eventually decides to use the ova and becomes pregnant, she will give birth to her genetic sister and Melanie Boivin will simultaneously become mother and grandmother.

Money is no deterrent. A surrogate mother in the United States would cost a couple anything up to $50,000.

Clinics are also starting to offer treatments aimed at the homosexual community. The Los Angeles-based The Fertility Institutes has launched a program for homosexual men who want to become parents, Reuters reported March 14.

Two dads, no mom. Two moms, no dad. Pity the offspring.

God save our Border

It seems to me that one of the most horrendous miscarriages of justice is the case of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean now serving 11 to 12 years in federal prison for the shooting of known drug dealer Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila of Mexico.

It appears that our government wants to make a statement to our Border Police to lay off drug smugglers and let the illegals flow in—drugs and all.

Why would two patrolmen be sentenced so severely for doing their job?

Several of our lawmakers claimed the Justice Department and prosecutor Johnny Sutton did not appropriately handle the case. And evidence seems to bear up the claim.
Even though the convicted tried to cover up the truth of the case, the smuggler, the drug trafficker, was granted full immunity to testify against them. And the testimony was false. Osbaldo was fleeing and he was not shot in the rear buttock as testified. He was shot in the side of the rear buttock which meant that he had to be turning to face the guards, as he was fleeing, and, according to the guards’ testimony pointed a gun at them.

That the jury would believe the testimony of a known smuggler over the border guard speaks of the system that denied evidence to the jury and gave credence to the criminal..That this criminal would be granted free transit to the US speaks of deep problems for our border security.

No wonder Bush enjoys such low approval ratings. He supports foreign criminals over our guards. God help us! .

We Answer Back!

Last week, we linked to a bunch of letters (including one by a Catholic priest!) in the San Francisco Chronicle attacking Fr. John for having the temerity to publicly assert Catholic teaching on homosexuality.

Fr. John's letter was prompted by this article in the Chronicle, published the day before the "Gay Pride" parade.

This week, we answer back!

Update: Thanks to Quintero, at "LA Catholic" for covering this!

Posted by Gibbons.

Dignity or Courage?

DignityUSA, the nation's largest advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Catholics held a national convention in Austin, Texas this month. They had some good things to say but found the Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Guidelines were deeply flawed. A revision of the theology of sexuality must be revised, they claimed.

The Bishops must acknowledge that many intimate relationships express unitive love, even in the absence of possible procreation. This must be affirmed as an expression of divine love, say the promoters of DignityUSA, and they continue:

"The Church has long acknowledged that one of the primary functions of the sexual relationship within marriage is the unitive function, which facilitates the development of a bond of love and intimacy between partners. Furthermore, the Church sanctions marriage between men and women who have no possibility of procreating, whether by reason of age or infertility. Sexually intimate relationships between same-gender couples must be affirmed as having the same potential for holiness as those between opposite-gender married couples.”

With this proclamation I must admit to losing respect for DignityUSA. Intimate sex between couples, male or female, is sinful if the couple is not married.

That’s why I propose Courage as a program for homosexuals.

My friend, the late Terence Cardinal Cooke of New York, knew that the individual dealing with same-sex attractions truly needed to experience the freedom of interior chastity and in that freedom find the steps necessary to living a fully Christian life in communion with God and others. He was concerned that many would not find this path and would be constantly trying to get their needs met in ways that ultimately do not satisfy the desires of the heart. Knowing of Fr. John Harvey's extensive ministry experience in this field, he invited him to come to his Archdiocese. With the help of the Rev. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., and others, Fr. Harvey began the Courage Apostolate in September, 1980.

With the endorsement of the Holy See, Courage now has more than 110 Chapters and contact people world-wide, over 1500 persons participating in its ListServs, and hundreds of persons per week receiving assistance from the main office and website. It has become a mainstream Catholic Apostolate helping thousands of men and women find peace through fellowship, prayer, and the Sacraments.

I beg our bishops to distance themselves from DigntyUSA and to promote the program that supports chastity: Courage.

Festival

Los Angeles has a Gay & Lesbian Film Festival going on now and ending on July 23. It showcases a five film series called “Queers in Christ.”

Some gays, especially in the media in this case, are desperate to find approval for sexual acts that are clearly condemned by Scripture and by the Catholic Church. They want to prove that God says it’s OK. Unfortunately some churchmen concur and try to change the Christian understanding of homosexuality.

The battle is on and ever more articulate and the gay lobby won’t give up. Don’t be deceived by these films, which touch the heart. Hollywood knows how to do it!

I am called intolerant and judgmental, but I insist again that homosexual inclinations are not evil, nor are the persons who experience them. I also insist that chastity has a place also in married life. To demand tolerance does not change an evil into a good. Then again, it's God's judgment that matters not mine or anyone else's.