http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/moral-religion/ en-us Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:26:41 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050749/posts University of Minnesota professor Paul Z. Myers made good on his pledge to desecrate the Eucharist today. According to his statement on the subject, “I pierced it [the Host] with a rusty nail (I hope Jesus’s tetanus shots are up to date). And then I simply threw it in the trash.” Saying he did not want to “single out just the cracker,” Myers also tore pages from the Koran along with a few pages from Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion and nailed them to the Host. He then said, “They are just paper. Nothing must be held sacred. (His emphasis.)... Catholic League http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050749/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:26:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050703/posts The Risk of Love July 23rd, 2008 by Mark Shea Recently a reader wrote me to say, “I read a story on the Internet about a Catholic couple whose new baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and anencephaly (no brain). They chose to abort it. How on earth would you deal pastorally with such a horrible situation?” Such questions involve several parts. What does God think? What would I do? What should I make of those people over there? We feel torn between obeying God’s commands “Don’t kill” and “Don’t judge.” And in our culture, “Don’t judge” has much the... Catholic Exchange http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050703/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:10:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050692/posts This all began a few days ago, when Jeff Miller at the Curt Jester blog posted this comment regarding RC women who seek to be ordained. I do enjoy it when my own humor sparks others to their own hilarity.  I jested the other day: "If women are being called to the priesthood then why is it only dissident women that are being called?  Where are the women being ordained that have a preference for the extraordinary form of the Mass?  Why do they always have a preference for Hippy stoles and not beautifully embroidered ones.  Where are the traditionalist... WDTPRS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050692/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:45:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050680/posts Breaking, big, news: The St. Louis Archdiocese filed suit today against the St. Stanislaus Kostka church in an attempt to regain control of the former Polish parish. Six parishioners, including three recent board members, joined the archdiocese in the suit. They are asking a St. Louis judge to void any changes to the St. Stanislaus' bylaws since 2001 and give the archbishop the authority to appoint a pastor and board there. Last month, the St. Stanislaus board voted 4-3 to dissolve itself and allow parishioners to elect a new board at its annual meeting in August. Eight St. Stanislaus... American Papist http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050680/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:29:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050334/posts The Bishop of Rochester Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, one of just two bishops in the Church of England to boycott the Lambeth Conference entirely, insisted today that he is being true to biblical authority. Explaining a decision that he admits has been painful for a man who sought refuge in Britain from persecution, and who has been at the heart of the two previous convocations at Canterbury – first as Coordinator in 1988 and then as a Member of the Steering Committee in 1998 - he said it was a matter of ‘conscience and logic’. He said that ‘persistent false teaching’... Lapido Media http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050334/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:48:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050298/posts Canterbury: The Vatican’s top evangelism officer urged the bishops of the Anglican Communion to set their house in order so that they may fulfill the Gospel mandate of bringing the world to Christ. Vatican official in warning to Anglican bishops Cardinal Ivan Dias, the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples said internal dissention within the Christian world and external attacks were hindering the spread of the faith. However, “for a disciple of Jesus Christ” to “preach the Gospel is not an option, but a command of the Lord.” Speaking to bishops gathered for the 14th Lambeth Conference... Religious Intelligence http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050298/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:54:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050290/posts History's humongous wheel turns and turns and turns again. Over time, mud and sludge accumulate on even the sprucest institutions. Take the 500-year-old Anglican family of churches, Christianity's third-largest, after Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy. With Anglicanism's biggest family event under way - the every-10-years gathering of bishops and archbishops in England - what the world sees, accurately or not, is a family in moral and spiritual disarray. --snip--For all that, Anglicanism's public troubles proceed from the takeover of Western Anglicanism by theological activists whose purpose is the remolding of Christianity into something less like the old-time religion than like the... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050290/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:38:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050235/posts We are not contending against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). “This combat rages fiercely even today, aided and abetted by well-known secret sects, Satanic groups and New Age movements, to mention but a few, and reveals many ugly heads of the hideous anti-God monster: among them are notoriously secularism, which seeks to build a Godless society; spiritual indifference, which is insensitive to transcendental values; and relativism, which is contrary to the permanent tenets of the Gospel. “All... Catholic Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050235/posts#comment Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:49:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050015/posts LAMBETH CONFERENCE 2008MISSION, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EVANGELISATION Cardinal Ivan DiasPrefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, Rome “This is indeed the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps 118:24). At the very outset, I want to thank His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury for his kind invitation to address this august Conference. I sincerely appreciate your warm welcome, which echoes the words of the psalmist: “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 133:1). CHRIST’S MANDATE TO EVANGELISE The theme of this... Rorate Coeli http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2050015/posts#comment Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:57:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049102/posts Contraception and Cultural Chaos — Part 1 of 6 July 21st, 2008 by Christopher West This July 25th marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most controversial papal documents in history: Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae which reaffirmed the traditional Christian teaching on the immorality of contraception. If you have wrestled with this teaching, believe me, I can relate. Years ago I almost left the Church over it. Forty years of perspective provide an opportunity to take another look. That’s what I’ll be doing in [the next] several columns.You may have noticed above that I said “traditional Christian teaching”... CatholicExchange.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049102/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:20:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049778/posts Does Contraception Foster Love? — Part 2 of 6 July 22nd, 2008 by Christopher West We continue a series of reflections on the issue of contraception in light of the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. When Pope Paul VI issued this document on July 25, 1968, it fell like a bomb. Many people wished the issue would just go away. It hasn’t. And it won’t. In fact, it can’t “go away.” This encyclical takes us to the very foundations of human life (humanae vitae).In the last column, we looked at how contraception has played a key role in the cultural... CatholicExchange.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049778/posts#comment Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:16:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049686/posts In Part 1 of this series, I wrote of the great elephants of India, who, although they have the physical capacity to uproot trees during the day, can be restrained all night long by a piece of twine and a twig. How is this possible? The elephant’s training begins when it is still young and considerably less powerful. Removed from its mother, the elephant is then shackled with an iron chain to a large tree. For days and weeks on end, the baby elephant strains against its restraints, only to find that all exertion is useless. Then slowly, over a... The Rebelution http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049686/posts#comment Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:51:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049529/posts July 2008 In view of the present tensions and divisions within the Anglican Communion, and out of deep concern for the unity of the Church, we consider it important to express clearly the position of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS) concerning human sexuality. We believe that God created humankind in his own image; male and female he created them for the continuation of humankind on earth. Women and men were created as God’s agents and stewards on earth We believe that human sexuality is God’s gift to human beings which is rightly ordered only when expressed within the... Anglican Mainstream http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049529/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:41:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049527/posts It's about a hundred degrees and getting hotter in the Big Top at Lambeth but the £1 million black hole in the budget at the Lambeth Conference means they can't afford air conditioning. Expect fainting bishops to be ferried out by ambulances any moment now, if they don't start shooting each other first. The press conference this morning was a farce. Communications officers declined to comment on who is here for reasons of 'security' but declined to say what the 'security' issues were. Apparently there are some Nigerian bishops at the conference but we are not allowed to know who... Times Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049527/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:38:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049452/posts "Look at me I have been automatically excommunicated and it is reserved to the Holy See to lift it."The annoying thing about these faux ordinations is that they are hard to parody when they go to so much effort to parody themselves.Come on tie-dye stoles?  Plus exactly what part of the ordination ceremony calls for the above rubric?  The blankets are a pretty tacky detail.  Them seem more fitting to send with your kindergarten kid for nap time.  Seen plenty of pictures of priest being ordained and don't think I ever saw one with them prostrate on a blanket.... Curt Jester http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049452/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:08:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049260/posts Dr. James Innell Packer, a noted Canadian theologian, author and a Board of Governors Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, as well as an executive editor of Christianity Today, recently addressed the contentious problem of homosexuality and same-sex unions in the Anglican church. The Anglican Church has come to a cross-roads because of the issue of same-sex "marriage," with a massive split in the Global Communion looking increasingly inevitable. Dr. Packer opened his remarks with a statement explaining why this issue is of such great importance in the Anglican Church today. "In brief," he said, "because it involves... Catholic Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049260/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:59:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049121/posts "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; and we were all given to drink of one Spirit" (I Cor 12:13) How many of you have heard people from your own generation or older say something like this: "I believe in Jesus, but I don't need the Church." Or: "I'm a spiritual person, but I'm not religious." Here's the problem with those statements: Without Jesus, there's no Church. It's that simple. And it's also true the other way around: Without the Church, there's no way we can have a lasting, personal relationship with the true Jesus... Catholic Culture http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049121/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:53:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049105/posts It hasn’t taken that many days to realize that the once-every-ten-years Lambeth Conference is again abundant in elaborate rhetoric. Last night’s sermon by the Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera is a good example. We heard from the bishop that the Anglican problem is very simple, "The church is called to be an inclusive communion,” de Chickera stated, “where there is space equally for everyone and anyone, regardless of color, gender, sexual orientation, ability. Unity in diversity is a cherished Anglican tradition, a spirituality which we must reinforce in all humility for the sake of Christ and... Catholic online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049105/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:23:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049036/posts I That Humanae Vitae and related Catholic teachings about sexual morality are laughingstocks in all the best places is not exactly news. Even in the benighted precincts of believers, where information from the outside world is known to travel exceedingly slowly, everybody grasps that this is one doctrine the world loves to hate. During Benedict XVI’s April visit to the United States, hardly a story in the secular press failed to mention the teachings of Humanae Vitae, usually alongside adjectives like “divisive” and “controversial” and “outdated.” In fact, if there’s anything on earth that unites the Church’s adversaries—all of... First Things http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049036/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:41:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048876/posts Arch Diocese Says Women Are 'Excommunicating Themselves' BOSTON -- Three Catholic women were ordained as priests in a Back Bay neighborhood church this weekend, despite the Vatican's admonition that the trio would be excommunicated if they did so.VIDEO: Women Priests Ordained In Boston“The women being ordained today have been called and they are following God’s guidance and direction for their lives,” said Dana Reynolds, a woman from California who became a Catholic bishop in a ceremony in Germany three months ago. “They have said ‘yes’ to God.”NewsCenter 5's Rondella Richardson reported that a congregation of Catholic worshippers, both male and... Boston Channel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048876/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:37:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048747/posts WASHINGTON, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- - July 25th Marks 40th Anniversary of Vatican's Devastating Decision Forty years ago, a decision was announced that has had a catastrophic impact on the poor and powerless around the world. On July 25, 1968, Pope Paul VI slammed the door on the hopes of the vast majority of Catholics and confirmed a complete prohibition on modern methods of contraception. The papal encyclical Humanae Vitae was a defining moment in modern church history and continues to be a source of great conflict and division in the church. It is a little-known fact that before Humanae... (UK) PR Newswire http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048747/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:22:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048684/posts SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Just as there are environmental wounds in nature, there are also wounds in society that threaten the purpose for which humanity was created, says Benedict XVI. The Pope said this today at the World Youth Day welcoming celebration at Barangaroo in Sydney on Thursday afternoon local time. The youth day celebrations will culminate Sunday with a closing Mass at Randwick Racecourse. The Holy Father began with a reflection of the natural beauty of Australia, which "evokes a profound sense of awe." "It is as though one catches glimpses of the Genesis creation story --... ZNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048684/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:29:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048610/posts Father, we come before You thanking You for every time You use us, another being, an event or occurance to stop even one child from being aborted. Father we praise Your name and rejoice when the TRUTH is told and Your LIGHT shines forth in the darkness! Lord, thank You for bringing the voices of the post-abortives forth to speak Your TRUTH. Bless Dan and Julie Zanoza for sharing their story and their truth with those who will listen or read it. Give them and others the courage to stand up and be heard. May those words go forth to... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048610/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:58:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048553/posts SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 19, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI expressed his deep sorrow for the suffering of sexual abuse victims during his homily at Mass with Australian clergy. Departing from his prepared homily during the Saturday liturgy at St. Mary's Cathedral, the Pope said, "Indeed, I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured, and I assure them that as their pastor, I too share in their suffering." The Pontiff's prepared speech addressed acknowledge "the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this... ZNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048553/posts#comment Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:50:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048282/posts Jesus Christ's epic Sermon on the Mount, with its calls for peacemaking, helping the poor and working for justice, could well be compared to a modern political campaign speech in front of the multitudes in a modern stadium. Now a Gilbert church is launching a Jesus for President campaign and will conduct a two-month effort starting in August - parallel to the U.S. presidential campaign - that emphasizes a familiar issue in the 2008 campaign: change. "Advocating for Change Since 33 A.D." is the secondary theme of the campaign that Pastor Mark Connelly is launching this weekend at Superstition Springs... ARIZONA TRIBUNE http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2048282/posts#comment Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:50:34 GMT