News Clips: July 2008 Archives
ZENIT reports that a TV ad campaign to bring fallen away Catholics back to the faith is seeing excellent results. Over 6,000 responded directly to the CatholicsComeHome.org web site. Non-Catholics also responded, many wanting to convert. What's interesting is that about "90% of those who left the Church can't give a good reason" why they left, and many can't express why they want to come back — they simply say they felt something was missing. This reflects my observation that Catholic roots go deep — once you are a Catholic, it sinks so deeply into you that even if you formally leave the church, you can't shake it. This is I think what causes ex-Catholics to be so much more bitter than erstwhile members of other churches (ever heard of an anti-Presbyterian?) — they are "kicking against the goads" and trying to fight that Catholicism that remains deep within them.
The pope sent a text message to World Youth Day pilgrims: "The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles and gives u the power boldly 2 proclaim that Christ is risen! - BXVI."
Too funny!
The pope is weighing in on climate change more, saying "We have to give impulse to rediscovering our responsibility and to finding an ethical way to change our way of life." These are probably the strongest statements yet he has made on the subject. He also spoke on the sexual abuse crisis.
A Michigan woman is claiming to channel Padre Pio and other spirits. She has a daughter who communicates with angels. She is an award-winning Catholic catechist but somehow missed the part about mediumship being a sin. As far as I'm concerned she's communicating with demons and merits reproach for channeling anyone. I'm surprised the reporter didn't ask the diocese what they thought. I hope they do something about her and warn her of the dangers she is engaging in.
(Thanks to Tom S.)
The Church of England is one step closer to ordaining women bishops. I hate to pronounce this "good" but it will have the glad effect of precipitating more converts to Catholicism. I wonder if the Pastoral Provision allowing married priests to convert to Catholicism and be ordained keeping their wives is in force in England?
A student at the University of Central Florida stole a communion host, upset that student fees for the public university are going to support religious institutions. When he tried to take it without consuming it at communion, he was stopped (he says forcibly), but he put it in his mouth and recovered it later.
I'm not sure the student understands the seriousness of what he's done. Basically, he's desecrated the Eucharist. And a secular person (which I assume he is) is not going to appreciated the magnitude of that. Even a religious person who is not Catholic might not fully understand.
Of course, such disrespect falls on his own head and hurts only him; Jesus is not helpless, nor can he be harmed by sacrilege. Well, I suppose the community can be harmed by the bad example, but it can also be edified by gaining an increased appreciation for the Eucharist and rallying around the cause.
I am reminded of Uzzah in 2 Sam 6:7 who touched the Ark of the Covenant when he wasn't supposed to and was struck dead. How much more do we need to be mindful of the Holy Eucharist and maintaining respect for it. "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep." (1 Cor 11:28-30) The Eucharist is serious stuff. (Perhaps there is a lesson here to all of us not to take it so cavalierly.)
So the big concern here is for his soul and convincing him to give it up and stop committing sacrilege.
(Thanks to Amy M.)
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