another thought provoking article about the election...

Can Catholics back Pro-Choice Obama?

hrmm...

http://ragincajuncatholics.blogspot.com

Humanity at the Center of Economy

Cardinal Renato Martino affirmed this in a press conference during a visit he is making to Chile through Wednesday.

"The economic crisis, which is manifested throughout the world, perhaps is a sign that the world is not made up only of bills, money and the economy. […] [The crisis] serves as a reminder that the human person must be put at the center of the whole of world economy," he said, as reported by the Chilean episcopal conference.

Catholic bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, who serves as chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, urged the Bush administration and Congress, September 26, to consider the moral aspects of the current financial crisis. The letter stressed responsibility, accountability, awareness of advantages and limitations of the market, solidarity, subsidiarity and the common good, in the search for just and effective responses to the economic turmoil, while considering its human impact and ethical dimensions.

Read the whole document here and tell me what you think.

http://ragincajuncatholics.blogspot.com

Come to Daddy...

I'm going to try my best at keeping this blog more theological and philosophical and less personal but I ask your forgiveness for a few moments of sappiness - especially when I'm bragging on you :)

I thought Adoration was simply beautiful last night. After I finished my typical running around to see about 'Lord knows what' I decided to bring Jonah to help his daddy do some work while I took some much needed time to pray. It took a couple minutes for mind to let go. I've become so accustomed to worrying about the whereabouts and well-being of that precious little boy that even in prayer my mind never quite lets go completely. As I fought with being in two places at once I suddenly had a very comforting thought. "He's with his daddy. You know he's safe and being cared for. Stop Worrying."

And that was it. I could pray.

My prayer drifted to the place that most of my petitions live- with you. I found myself bringing to God all the things that fill my ears during the day, my mind at night and my heart - always. I know it sounds silly because you are all adults but I do worry about all of you. This spiritual motherhood - while it is my job- is also something that I love and at times hate very much. I love it because I love all of you and you bring new and inspiring moments into each and every one of my days. I hate it because I hate seeing you hurt, struggle and sometimes lose your way. Never-the-less, I began bringing one thing after another to the Lord in His presence. "Help them, fix them, inspire them, keep them safe......What's going to happen Lord? What can I do? What should I say? " and then suddenly, again, I knew His answer; "They're with their daddy. You know they're safe and being cared for. Stop Worrying."

Yeah. Sometimes He's cool like that.

I could feel the smile on my face after that. And then, almost as if God had prompted you, just for me, to give me that effort push of comfort we all entered into that moment of prayer singing: "Mold us, mold us and make us, into the image of Jesus your son."

Smile.

Responsibility returns too though. God has entrusted me to be a friend to you and to be His hands and His feet to walk along with you on your journey in becoming holy adults. I don't have to 'worry' but I probably always will. And yes, it was at that moment that Daddy strolled down the aisle with crying baby Jonah to give him back to Mamma.

Real life.

Ok-somebody's crying. Time for a diaper change.

Can a Catholic in good conscience support a "pro-choice" candidate?

After some conversation in Kurzweg today with a student who is uncertain about who to vote for in November, I looked up an article by my old Denver Archbishop, Charles Chaput, who I admire as one of the most Fatherly and on-target Bishops in the U.S. He recently wrote an article in the Denver Catholic Register entitled 10 Points for Catholic Citizens to Remember. I suggest you read the whole thing if you have a minute. It's not very long and it brings up some good points when thinking about who to vote for in this upcoming Presidential election. I've posted his final 3 'Points' here because they are of special interest. Can a Catholic in good conscience support a 'pro-choice' candidate? Arch-Bishop Chaput or as my students in Denver liked to call him, ABC, says that Catholics can indeed support a pro-choice candidate if they have a proportionate reason to justify it. Personally I say even if that is 'technically' a possibility it's about as likely as justifying the use of the death penalty in the U.S. by saying we have no sufficient way of detaining the prisoners, but thats an issue we can save for another day.  What is a proportionate reason? Read his definition and then tell me if you can think of one. I sure can't.

8. So can a Catholic in good conscience support a “pro-choice” candidate? The answer is: I can’t and I won’t. But I do know some serious Catholics — people whom I admire — who will. I think their reasoning is mistaken. But at the very least they do sincerely struggle with the abortion issue, and it causes them real pain. And even more importantly: They don’t keep quiet about it; they don’t give up their efforts to end permissive abortion; they keep lobbying their party and their elected representatives to change their pro-abortion views and protect the unborn. Catholics can support “pro-choice” candidates if they support them despite — not because of — their “pro-choice” views. But they also need a compelling proportionate reason to justify it.

9. What is a “proportionate” reason when it comes to the abortion issue? It’s the kind of reason we will be able to explain, with a clean heart, to the victims of abortion when we meet them face to face in the next life — which we most certainly will. If we’re confident that these victims will accept our motives as something more than an alibi, then we can proceed.

10. Lastly, the heart of truly “faithful” citizenship is this: We’re better citizens when we’re more faithful Catholics. The more authentically Catholic we are in our lives, choices, actions and convictions, the more truly we will contribute to the moral and political life of our nation.

Whatcha think?

THE WAY TO A WOMAN'S HEART IS THROUGH HER NOSE?

What is it about the opposite sex that attracts us? His kind words, his raspy voice, his big puppy dog eyes and oh yeah! his B.O.? Sure every lady likes a nice cologne on her man but is there something deeper in his smell that attracts us? Is there something scientific to attraction? Do reason and science agree with the Church on her teaching against artificial contraception? I found this article this morning on Zenit.org- verrry interesting. 

Food for Thought.....are you hungry?

For a while now I've thrown around the idea of creating a blog where we can post thoughts, prayers, quotes and have discussion about a variety of things- mostly about spirituality and the issues of our faith. In essence there would be a main post (like this one now) and everyone would be open to comment on it, thus opening up a discussion. What do you think? Is this something that you think would be useful to Wisdom?