This week: Go to confession! Two great new sources of information are GoodConfession.com and The Light is ON. Get inspired, fire-up your motivation and do it. Archbishop Cordileone talks about receiving the Blessed Sacrament worthily. A loving mom and her special needs child. Lutheran Satire has some good insights, made in good humor. Reacting to sound and speech for the first time.

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The folks at Catholics Come Home (who do superb work, BTW) have a new project to promote the Sacrament of Reconciliation (a/k/a confession). it is GoodConfession.com. Visit the website, there is a much to be explored. If you do not go to confession regularly, remember to go at least during Lent (many parishes make it especially inviting with Penance Services).

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The Archdiocese of Washington has also launched a project to promote confession called The Light is ON. Here are some of their informative videos:

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Archbishop Cordileone is an excellent shepherd, not afraid to address “sensitive issues” with his flock. Here he speaks with LifeSiteNews.com on what it means to receive the Blessed Sacrament and proper disposition.

I have written about these topics a few times, including in The Body of Christ.

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This is interesting. It is a positive commercial on parenting a special needs child.

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The Monty-Python-esque guys over at Lutheran Satire take a not-so-honest look at church attendance. “Yes, an absolute dearth of those in the coveted 0 to 35 year old demographic I am afraid.” In their own, somewhat odd way, they make the same point that Pope Francis has been making.

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Last year, this same group (Lutheran Satire) brought us the following theology piece for St. Patrick’s day. Here simple, common, but quite poor analogies are given to explain the Holy Trinity:

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Nothing new, but simply an amazing reaction. Watch as emotions flood over this woman who hears for the first time in her 39 years:

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: Another excellent video from Chris Stefanick, this time looking at The Separation of Church and State. Bishop Morlino (Madison) reflects on Pope Francis’ first year and reality vs. media twisted sound-bytes. Cardinal Burke explains that doctrine will not be changed (duh, but many are being led otherwise). If you are carrying a downs baby, thinking about his/her quality of life, and struggling with your “choice..”. watch this. Hospitals in the UK have a green solution for aborted and miscarried babies. A short documentary on St. Peter’s (Omaha) restoration. Stephen Colbert making inroads where few others have.

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Chris Stefanick continues his series of excellent videos. While it has been said many times before, the fact remains that many people (people YOU know and love) simply do not understand State vs. Church. They assume something that was never the understanding until very recent times, something that is very wrong, something whose fruits will be very poor.

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Bishop Robert C. Morlino briefly reflects on Pope Francis’ first year. He does a great job explaining the substance of our Holy Father vs. the media’s agenda with out-of-context sound-bytes. Bishop Morlino is an excellent shepherd, here and in general.

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Changing doctrine is something no pope can do. Nor can they do it just in practice via word games, if not officially. Moreover, Pope Francis is a faithful Catholic so it simply will not happen. These facts do not slow liberals, even a stray bishop or two, from suggesting otherwise. Many have corrected the notion. Here is Cardinal Raymond Burke (Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura) on the topic:

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You are devastated, hearing your unborn child will have down syndrome. Doctors, friends and even relatives have advised you to “terminate” “it.” You are scared and don’t want your child to suffer. Dear Mom…

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The radical left is all about reducing man’s footprint on the planet, especially by reducing the existence of man. They too are all about green initiatives – again the primacy of what is good for the planet. News this week is about a new win/win on both counts. Step (1) abort babies in volume then step (2) use their bodies as fuel to heat hospitals.

The Telegraph reports that the remains of thousands of aborted and miscarried babies were used in this most inhuman plan. Words fail. Read about it in Aborted babies incinerated to heat UK hospitals. This is no joke.

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I previously covered the rebuilding and restoration of St. Peter’s in Omaha (here). It is a wonderful story. EWTN will soon broadcast a new half-hour special on their efforts, or you can watch it right here:

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Speaking regularly to, and apparently loved by, a young demographic – Stephen Colbert connects to people where they are. Often they are anti-religion, especially Catholicism, and receptive toward atheist and secular viewpoints.

Somehow he still reaches them while making a lot of good points. I can’t think of anyone else like him. Here he actually *mocks atheism*, they listen and love it!

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: How we will one day view Planned Parenthood. A tough, but honest look at the nature of abortion. One man’s remarkable accomplishment to advance women’s health. A young boy honors the memory of his dad. A 90 second video gives a glimpse of war’s nightmare for children. Father Barron presents a brief overview of the Council of Trent. A warning from the ’50s which we paid no attention to (one of many).

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No words are necessary.

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The truth about abortion is offensive because abortion is offensive. Many women today bear the indelible scars of their abortion. Younger women, filled with pride and radical feminist zeal, too often have not learned this hard, life changing lesson. This film is for them.

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Real women’s health issues are not about “reproductive rights” (a direct euphemism for abortion) but actually about women’s health. Outside of the affluent West, one of the many serious issues is the lack of access not to abortion but to sanitary pads. This is the fascinating story of an Indian man who has done something about it:

Arunachalam Muruganantham also gave this talk and was featured aspect in a documentary entitled: Menstrual Man.

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An Ohio boy “pays it forward” by a kind act honoring his father:

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Save the Children UK has a video showing what war does to children. The setting is here, not some far away place, to make the point more present.

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Father Barron gives a very nice overview on the 450th anniversary, of the Council of Trent. If you don’t know what it is or much about it, this will help.

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In the 50’s, we received this warning. I am sure many thought “this could never happen here!” Only 60 years later, look where we are. People were warned, but they did not listen. Now they are waking up, but time is short. Non-negotiable priorities in upcoming elections: (1) stop abortion, (2) restore religious freedom, (3) fix this:

Here is a more in-depth piece.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: The latest issue of New Evangelists Monthly is ready and calling you. The Texas Alliance for Life sounds a hopeful message. Cecile Richards speaks (almost) about when life begins. Iowa Democrat Beth Wessel-Kroeschell explains how abortion is a solution for colicky babies while other Iowa Democrats pray that God blesses their pro-abortion efforts. A new video on the War on Humans. What will the radical left do when their favorite causes collide: Muslims vs. gay agenda. Muslims shower Mass attendees with some religion of peace love.

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Issue #15, March 2014, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from February. This month brought these great topics: ToB, forgiveness, Love in Lent, His presence, marriage, crosses, real Jesus, identity, witness, Lent, prayer, TLM, Fr. Richards, presentation, cancer, suicide, book review, good men, gatekeepers, blessed day, Finisher, images, status, home altar, no heretic, Ukraine, no gas, hope, Blessed Dina, nulla salus, grace leaps, pruning, gracious winners, forsaken me?, holy priests, chastisement, plans, love tipped, Thy pity, praying, Ananias, St. Joseph, choices, trials, Passion, priorities, could have, ToB works, Oh Lent!, B16 thanks, an icon, power hour, metaphysics, stations, sorrowful, called, shining, kind police, fog images, all you need, newcomer, Alveda, rice, His arms, little light, subway art, thankful, holiness, desert joy, sad place, physical, meal plan, snowed in, tears, lectio, veiling, Facebook, suffering and vacations.

This monthly “meta-magazine” showcases faithful Catholicism from theology to family life and “everything in between.” Enjoy it now at NewEvangelists.org.

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A hopeful video from the Texas Alliance for Life, reviews 41 years of Roe v. Wade.

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When does life begin? An easy question, really. Not so much for Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards. Apparently, it is a personal decision. Maybe at (a healthy?) birth.

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Iowa Democrat Beth Wessel-Kroeschell explains the many potential inconveniences that a mother may avoid by killing her child, such as colic (crying for 3 or more hours). Planned Parenthood concurs, recognizing her as a champion for abortion. The story is at LifeNews.com.

The Iowa Democrats are still praying to God that He, the Creator of all life, bless their relentless efforts to destroy it (really, no kidding – they are actually THAT messed-up):

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Humans, created in the image and likeness of God, have no special place in The War on Humans. In fact, they are the planet’s PROBLEM. Nut case environmentalism run amok. The Discovery Institute has produced a mini-documentary (31 minutes):

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This should be interesting. Let’s see if the left is willing to force Muslims to violate their faith:

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Speaking of the “religion of peace,” in France followers sprinkle some love upon Catholics:

If they only threw stones at Christians. The reality is far worse.

There are many followers of Islam. The vast majority, in most places, do NOT attack Christians and are truly peaceful people. Yet atrocities against innocent Christians happen very often and rarely do we see other Muslims condemn those attacks. TheReligionOfPeace.com keeps one (incomplete) list.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: The Son of God is released TODAY. The warm and funny story of how a doctor was engaged to treat Mother Theresa. Father Gordon MacRae’s federal appeal will be heard for his 20 year (so far) unjust imprisonment. The short, beautiful life of Zion Isaiah Blick. Chris Stefanick talks about tolerance. The swift loss of our freedoms to an increasingly authoritarian state.

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Released TODAY is Son of God, just in time for Lent. It looks good and has some big league Catholic endorsements. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this will be a powerful, truthful movie. Usually this time of year we expect to see the History Channel and the like releasing their latest heretical, often blasphemous, “documentary”.

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This is a wonderful story, told with much humor, by a doctor called to attend to Mother Theresa.

Thanks to Russ Rentler (himself a faithful physician) for spotting it.

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Father Gordon MacRae is still serving his 67 years sentence, convicted of being a Catholic priest in New Hampshire in 1994. If you haven’t read about this gross miscarriage of justice, see Ryan MacDonald’s two part The Trial of Father MacRae: A Conspiracy of Fraud here and here. I contributed to his federal appeal and urge you to also.

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Speaking of injustice, did you ever throw a snowball as a child? In Chicago, that gets you charged with a felony. You may think “there has to be more to it than that”. Not really, as one unfortunate 13 year old kid learned. Really, no harm, no intent to harm, no endangerment, nada — just a thrown snowball. This absurd story is here.

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This is the beautiful story of Zion Isaiah Blick, who was permitted to live the life God gave him. He lived a life of love and dignity, touching many people, and standing in stark contract to the usual medical advice to “terminate” the pregnancy (a poor euphemism for killing the child). The Christian Post has more on the story.

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Labeling views you disagree with as “hate speech” is, of course, simple intolerance of all views that differ from theirs – those in the “tolerance” crowd. Chris Stefanick takes a closer look:

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If they are not stopped, they will keep pushing the envelope. The envelope, constitutional freedoms, has already been pushed so far as to be completely tattered. Religious liberty continues under very serious attack.

Free speech, once a cherished ideal, is becoming a shadow of its former self. It started with IRS *regulation* of the pulpit: no commentary which could conceivably be considered political unless it is for liberal candidates and causes (for example). Conservative viewpoints, including fundamental Catholic beliefs, are “hate speech” which will soon enough be subject to prosecution. The overwhelmingly liberal media may not be liberal enough, so the FCC wants to monitor newsrooms with government tenders. The University of Alabama recently ordered the removal of a pro-life display finding it “offensive” (it was not graphic). Public high schools such as this one have censored pro-life groups but are completely OK with open, active, enthusiastic promotion of the homosexual agenda.

BTW, while the IRS unconstitutionally regulating speech in churches is bad enough, under this administration they have powerful, new ObamaCare enforcement authority. Do not expect fair treatment, as nothing has changed in IRS targeting of groups opposed to the administration:

People need to wake-up before it is too late (if it isn’t already).

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!