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From The Catholic Herald: The Dominican sister who gave a presentation on sexuality to students at Charlotte Catholic High School that sparked controversy among students and parents last month is taking a sabbatical from teaching and canceling her other speaking engagements.The presentation March 21 by Dominican Sister Jane Dominic Laurel of Nashville, Tenn., entitled “Masculinity and Femininity: Difference and Gift,” drew the ire of hundreds of students and parents over the past two weeks, and their emotions boiled over during a parents meeting with school and diocesan leaders Wednesday night.Sister Jane has a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical...

A member of a group sent this to me in response to a previous posting: Weird to suggest scripture on your side. Jesus made fun of people who accumulate wealth. Nothing in bible suggests Jesus would oppose inheritance or income tax. So many people pretend to be bible scholars without reading the bible. Bible explains unequivocally that all the early Christians lived as communists. So raise he'll about the need for no income or inheritance taxes if you want. You might be right. But you are a liar if you claim Jesus is on your side. New pope seems to...

I’ve been thinking about the bishops’ recent celebration of Mass at the US-Mexican border. My concern is not political (both sides of the immigration debate make good points and reasonable minds may differ about those), nor is my concern religious per se (we have participated in faith-based events at the border and we made sure our kids experienced them too). Rather, my concern is liturgical and canonical, specifically, treating the venue of holy Mass as an opportunity to make political statements and regarding canon law on liturgy as little more than suggestions. Canon 932 § 1 (one among the 1,752...

The Universities Minister unveils plans for ‘Sharia-compliant’ student loans amid fears Muslims are being put off degree courses by the higher education finance system A new system of “Sharia-compliant” student loans is to be launched to allow more Muslim students to go to university, it has been announced. David Willetts, the Universities Minister, said an alternative financial model was being created to satisfy Islamic law that forbids Muslims taking out loans that make interest. Under the system, students would apply for taxpayer-backed loans but repay them into a mutual-style fund that would be ring-fenced to provide future finance to other...

LONDON, April 2, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales assured Catholic Members of Parliament this week that there are “no plans” to refuse them Holy Communion after they voted to support the “gay marriage” legislation that came into effect yesterday. Greg Pope, head of parliamentary relations at the conference and a former Labour Party MP, wrote to MPs assuring them that comments by the bishop of Portsmouth, Philip Egan, on the Church’s Code of Canon Law forbidding Communion to “manifest grave sinners,” would not be applied to them. Today the media office of the bishops’...

Shepherds & Kings: A Look at the Papacy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnNo2LgnnyI(Music used available for purchase here: http://www.amazon.com/Cantiones-sacrae-II-Exsurge-Domine/dp/B00B9E18Y8) There is to be one Shepherd here. It was first King David (Ezekiel 34:23), then Jesus (John 10:11), and now is the Pope (John 21:17). This role is tied to the role of King. As David was King (2 Samuel 5:12) and Christ is King (Matthew 27:11), so the Pope is (as the Vicar of Christ) "father of princes and kings". Historically, the Pope has been the unifier of everyone: emperors, artists, the religious, and so on. Whenever emperors would abandon the Faith, they would...

The liberal mainstream media has long portrayed the picture of moderate (good) Muslims versus extremist Muslims. This narrative has been institutionalized in the thinking of Western Muslim scholars who advocate for Islam as well. This has led to the thought that Islam is an ideology and religion of peace, because a majority of Muslims fall in the category of moderate or good Muslims. If we analyze this dichotomy in-depth, the reality of this phenomenon on the ideology of Islam can become clear. Besides analytical and theoretical frameworks, I will also draw on my own experience growing up in the Muslim...

Does Inaction Politicize the Faith? By Kristina Johannes Friday, 04 April 2014 I recently had lunch with a friend who is a revert to the Catholic faith. Now fervently Catholic, she has maintained the fiery and no nonsense evangelical spirit she picked up during her Protestant sojourn – one of the many reasons I enjoy spending time with her. This particular day she wanted to know why something hasn’t been done about politicians who support abortion or other practices that directly contradict the faith, and then are able to present to the public what amount to Catholic selfies. She...

Proverb 4 (NKJV) Security in Wisdom 01 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, 00 And give attention to know understanding; 02 For I give you good doctrine: 00 Do not forsake my law. 03 When I was my father's son, 00 Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, 04 He also taught me, and said to me: 00 "Let your heart retain my words; 00 Keep my commands, and live. 05 Get wisdom! Get understanding! 00 Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 06 Do not forsake her,...

Several families driven from their homes, houses razed to the ground and land seized: Vietnamese authorities continue to subject Catholics to raids against in Cồn Dầu, Cẩm Lệ district, Da Nang province (south-central Vietnam), at the center of a land ownership controversy. For six years, Hanoi has tried in every possible way to justify its actions with claims that they are motivated by "ecological" needs, although in reality the real goal is the construction of a luxury tourist resort. The faithful try to resist and keep the historical community alive, even if their number is dwindling with the passage of...

In his Kremlin defense of Russia's annexation of Crimea, Vladimir Putin, even before he began listing the battles where Russian blood had been shed on Crimean soil, spoke of an older deeper bond. Crimea, said Putin, "is the location of ancient Khersones, where Prince Vladimir was baptized. His spiritual feat of adopting Orthodoxy predetermined the overall basis of the culture, civilization and human values that unite the peoples of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus." Russia is a Christian country, Putin was saying. This speech recalls last December's address where the former KGB chief spoke of Russia as standing against a decadent...

SPRINGFIELD, IL, April 3, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, known for his outspoken defense of the right to life and the natural family, has signaled his support for denying Communion to Catholic politicians who publicly endorse activities gravely contrary to the moral law. The bishop wrote recently to a pro-life activist to affirm that he is upholding a diocesan priest’s decision to deny Communion to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, who has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood. Paprocki’s e-mail was reported Thursday by Catholic commentator Matt Abbott. “Senator Durbin was...

Nigeria’s leading prelate has briefed the German Bishops’ Conference on religion and violence in Nigeria, particularly the violence committed by members of the Islamist terrorist movement Boko Haram. “Beyond verbal tirades by some pastors, so far I am not aware of any violent groups claiming Christian inspiration,” said Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Abuja, according to a report by the Catholic News Service of Nigeria. “This seems to me to put a significant responsibility on our Islamic community to do more about ‘reining in their mad dogs,’” he added. “It is not immediately clear how much they are doing in this...

>With a row of Swiss Guards and cameras flickering away, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived to the Vatican. CARD. PIETRO PAROLINSecretary of State"Your majesty welcome”The Queen was about 20 minutes late, but as a true English woman, she was quite conscious of time.    QUEEN ELIZABETH II "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. We were having lunch with the president.”  The meeting lasted about 20 minutes. It marks the first gathering between Pope Francis and Queen Elizabeth. First, she introduced her staff...  QUEEN ELIZABETH II"This is my private secretary. From Australia.”  And then gifts were exchanged. The Queen...

Psalm 99:4,5 Jehovah Sits in Majesty in Zion, Supremed Above All Rulers of the Earth. Let them Reverence Your Great and Holy Name. This Mighty King is Determined to Give Justice. Fairness is the Touchstone of Everything He Does. He Gives Justice throughout Israel. Exalt the Lord our Holy God! Bow Low Before His Feet.

The motion was passed by 30 votes to zero, with unionists abstainingCouncillors in Belfast have voted in favour of inviting the Pope to the city. The proposal was backed by Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance, but unionists councillors abstained. Earlier this year, the Irish senate unanimously voted to invite Pope Francis for an official visit. Pope Francis is due to meet the Queen on Thursday, and unionists argued it would be appropriate for her and the government to issue such an invitation. DUP councillor Lee Reynolds said the motion presented by the SDLP "was essentially an election stunt and...

Monsignor Matthew Koo recounted being detained in a Chinese labor camp for thirty years due to his Marian devotion, noting that although the experience was painful there were also many blessings. “Oh, I thought that sacrifice is God's gift. People say that 'you suffered a lot,' I said if not to suffer, how could I be here?” the priest said in a March 17 interview with CNA. Msgr. Koo is originally from Shanghai in mainland China. After entering the seminary in 1953, he was arrested two years later for being an active member of the Legion of Mary – a...

 The following article appeared in the April 2014 edition of The Limbaugh Letter. Reprinted with permission from The Limbaugh Letter, ©2014 Premiere Networks, Inc.For additional information, or to subscribe to The Limbaugh Letter please visit www.thelimbaughletter.comMy Conversation with Bill Donohueby Rush LimbaughA privilege to speak with this religious freedom warrior, president of the Catholic League, a bold presence on television, the author of many books, including Secular Sabotage: How Liberals Are Destroying Religion and Culture in America and Why Catholicism Matters: How Catholic Virtues Can Reshape Society in the 21st Century: Rush: Dr. Donohue, this is great. I have wanted...

Persecuted and Forgotten infographic. Credit: Aid to the Church in Need. Washington D.C., Apr 2, 2014 / 04:32 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) has called on President Barack Obama to follow up on his meeting with Pope Francis by backing the creation of a special envoy for religious minorities in the Middle East and south central Asia. “I urge you to put your words into action, lest inaction be perceived as indifference,” Wolf wrote in a March 27 letter to Obama. “The scope of religious persecution around the world, but especially in the Middle East is gravely concerning,...

Tallahassee, Fla. Pastor Dr. R. B. Holmes, whose leadership against hazing and the infamous "stand your ground laws", has announced his candidacy for the presidency of the National Baptist Convention USA., Inc. At a National Press Club announcement last week, Holmes called on the Black church to arise and take back its historic role in fighting social justice issues. "The Black church has become too quiet, too passive, too disconnected when it comes to challenging policies programs and persons that degrade and devastate our people" said Holmes, flanked by dozens of church and community leaders. He also announced the formation...