Spirituality | pamibe

Obama’s War on Catholicism

February 4, 2012

The Obama administration decided that Catholic universities, hospitals and charities will be compelled to pay for health insurance that covers sterilization, contraceptives and abortifacients.

The HHS has issued a rule forcing nearly all private health plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, as well as surgical sterilization. These are listed among “preventive services for women” that all health plans will have to cover without co-pays or other cost-sharing — regardless of whether the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor, or even the woman herself objects to such coverage.

The exemption provided for “religious employers” is so narrow that it fails to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations, including Catholic hospitals, universities, and service organizations that help millions every year. Ironically, not even Jesus & his disciples would have qualified.

USCCB

Video statement from the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Timothy M. Dolan.

Last Sunday parishioners were read letters from their Bishops about the DHHS mandate.

Military chaplains tried to do the same…

The Military Is Now Telling Catholic Chaplains What They Can And Can’t Say About The Obama Administration

The Catholic Church is fighting mad about an HHS ruling that would have them buy insurance for things they consider sinful–contraception, sterilization and abortion.

All the bishops in the country sent out a letter to be read in their parishes promising that the Church “cannot-and will not-comply with this unjust law.”

Even Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who is in charge of Catholic military chaplains sent out the same letter.

But after he did, the Army’s Office of the Chief of Chaplains sent out another communication forbidding Catholic priests to read the letter, in part because it seemed to encourage civil disobedience, and could be read as seditious against the Commander-in-Chief.

More than one Catholic chaplain who spoke to us off the record confirmed that many chaplains disobeyed this instruction and read the letter anyway. Others sought further instructions from their Archbishop.

Now after much behind-the-scenes bureaucratic wrangling, a new version of the letter will be read, one that was edited of the language about “unjust laws.”

Tell me again how obama really is a Christian, regardless of his speech or actions. And try to keep a straight face while you’re doing it.

Malice

October 28, 2011

23 Comments

Muslim students at the Catholic University of America in D.C. called the lack of a room to pray in sans crosses a ‘violation of their human rights’ and a suit has been filed against the private institution.

The investigation alleges that Muslim students “must perform their prayers surrounded by symbols of Catholicism – e.g., a wooden crucifix, paintings of Jesus, pictures of priests and theologians which many Muslim students find inappropriate.”

A spokesperson for the Office of Human Rights told Fox News they had received a 60-page complaint against the private university. The investigation, they said, could take as long a six months.

People have even gone so far as to say that the university is exhibiting ‘malice’ toward the muslim students. John Banzhaf, a George Washington University Law School professor who has a storied history of filing meaningless complaints:

“It may not be illegal, but it suggests they are acting improperly and probably with malice,” said Banzhaf about the religious imagery in classrooms. “[Muslims] do have to pray five times a day, they have to look around for empty classrooms and to be sitting there trying to do Muslim prayers with a big cross looking down or a picture of Jesus or a picture of the Pope is not very conductive to their religion.”

Interestingly enough, not all muslim students were… radical:

The Post article, which interviewed several Muslim students, found none of them critical of CUA’s attitude towards their faith, and many of them complimentary. One student said his Islamic faith had matured for the better amid the welcoming campus culture.

So is this another instance of muslims trying to integrate and change from within or a case of an overzealous professor with an agenda and/or a grudge?

Personally, I think that anyone having a problem with crosses should not be attending a private Catholic university. They can transfer to another school or leave altogether… but isn’t it interesting that they can’t pray with a likeness of Jesus in the room, when we’ve been told over and over that He is a part of their doctrine too? I think the malice is theirs.

Ed Morrissey writes:

Besides, what exactly is CU supposed to do — tear down the cathedral dome? I’ve visited CU and the Basilica, and it’s a beautiful, contemplative place. My wife and I attended Mass there on a visit a couple of years ago. The university is hardly overwhelmed with Catholic iconography, however, and there are plenty of places off-campus in the neighborhood for students to meet for those who think it is. According to Google Maps, there are five Islamic centers within 4 miles of the Basilica, including three less than two miles away.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy.

Christos Anesti!

April 24, 2011

6 Comments

Christ is risen from the dead,
Trampling down death by death,
And upon those in the tombs
Bestowing life!

Opening prayer by Pope Benedict XVI at the beginning of the Way of the Cross at the Roman Coliseum:

Lord Jesus,

you invite us to follow you

in this, your final hour.

In you, each one of us is present

and we, though many, are one in you.

In your final hour is our life’s hour of testing,

in all its harshness and brutality;

it is the hour of the passion of your Church

and of all humanity.

It is the hour of darkness:

when “the foundations of the earth tremble”

and man, “a tiny part of your creation”,

groans and suffers with it;

an hour when the various masks of falsehood

mock the truth

and the allure of success stifles the deep call to honesty;

when utter lack of meaning and values

brings good training to nought

and the disordered heart disfigures the innocence

of the small and weak;

an hour when man strays from the way leading to the Father

and no longer recognizes in you

the bright face of his own humanity.

This hour brings the temptation to flee,

the sense of bewilderment and anguish,

as the worm of doubt eats away at the mind

and the curtain of darkness falls on the heart.

And you, Lord,

who read the open book of our frail hearts,

ask us this evening,

as once you asked the Twelve:

“Do you also wish to leave me?”

No, Lord, we cannot and would not leave you,

for you alone “have the words of eternal life”,

you alone are “the word of truth”

and your cross alone

is the “key that opens to us the secrets

of truth and life”.

“We will follow you wherever you go!”

Following you is itself our act of worship,

as from the horizon of the not yet

a ray of joy

caresses the already of our journey.

“The open book of our frail hearts…”

A happy and blessed Easter to you all!

Giving Up

March 1, 2011

9 Comments

I love Sister Mary Martha!

The good Sister blogs at Ask Sister Mary Martha, answering reader’s questions and dispensing helpful advice. Frequently witty and nearly always informative, she’s now a staple in my Reader.

Yesterday someone inquired about Lent and the Sister didn’t fail. After writing about giving up sweets this year, she throws in a caveat:

But… I don’t believe in giving up something for Lent that you need to do anyhow. Want to quit smoking and go on a diet? Do it on your own time. This season is about you and God, not about you and your waist size. At the end of Lent, you should be saying, “Wow, I have a much closer relationship with God now!” Not, “Wow, look how great I look in these jeans! Thank you, God!”

I’d toyed with giving up the blog again but rather than cut it out altogether I think I’ll excise only that part of blogging which is compulsive for me: Current events. So for Lent this year I won’t be reading news for hours each day, instead devoting that time to prayer and/or good works. The blog should reflect that… and probably be dull as dust.

It will be a challenge, but I’ll have my Lenten peeps and chocolate rabbits to strengthen my resolve.

Muslims act as human shields for Christians

January 8, 2011

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Credit where credit is due:

The Anchoress reports that Muslims in Egypt who had promised to act as human shields for Coptic Christians at Christmas Eve mass honored their word.

Egypt’s majority Muslim population stuck to its word Thursday night. What had a been a promise of solidarity to the weary Coptic community, was honoured, when thousands of Muslims showed up at Coptic Christmas eve mass services in churches around the country and at candle light vigils held outside.

From the well-known to the unknown, Muslims had offered their bodies as “human shields” for last night’s mass, making a pledge to collectively fight the threat of Islamic militants and towards an Egypt free from sectarian strife.

“We either live together, or we die together,” was the sloganeering genius of Mohamed El-Sawy, a Muslim arts tycoon whose cultural centre distributed flyers at churches in Cairo Thursday night, and who has been credited with first floating the “human shield” idea.

Among those shields were movie stars Adel Imam and Yousra, popular preacher Amr Khaled, the two sons of President Hosni Mubarak, and thousands of citizens who have said they consider the attack one on Egypt as a whole.

“This is not about us and them,” said Dalia Mustafa, a student who attended mass at Virgin Mary Church on Maraashly. “We are one. This was an attack on Egypt as a whole, and I am standing with the Copts because the only way things will change in this country is if we come together.”

We know that not every Muslim is a terrorist, or wants to be. If more start standing up to their radical brethren on behalf of people of other religions, well… that might change the world. I won’t hold my breath, just… hope and pray.

If you click over to The Anchoress’ site, be sure and visit the link at the bottom of the post related to Christians being rounded up in Iran. Truly horrible stuff.

Light in the Dark

December 25, 2010

4 Comments

Merry Christmas! Love has been born!

As happens so often with her essays, I’ve been holding on to this one of Joan’s until today… re-reading, savoring again and again before finally posting it…

Wishing you all a wonderful day, filled with family, friends, food and joy.

The New Eve

December 20, 2010

1 Comment

Via The Anchoress:

this video is one of the best brief expositions I’ve ever seen on the theological role Mary plays in this whole pageant of salvation in which we live, and for which we seek understanding.

Excellent video; if you don’t have 11 minutes now, mark it to watch later.

“Worthy of belief”

December 9, 2010

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What an uplifting Advent season!

Bishop Ricken approves Marian apparitions at Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help

(December 8, 2010) — Bishop David Ricken announced today that he officially approves the Marian apparitions at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help at Champion.

The announcement was made during a special Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help at Champion.

Reading from his decree, the Bishop stated, “I declare with moral certainty and in accord with the norms of the Church that the events, apparitions and locutions given to Adele Brise in October of 1859 do exhibit the substance of supernatural character, and I do hereby approve these apparitions as worthy of belief (although not obligatory) by the Christian faithful.”

Today’s declaration makes Our Lady of Good Help at Champion the first and only site in the United States of an approved apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Via The Anchoress.