April 26, 2008
An aspiring seminarian needs our help
I received the following from a man who has been accepted as a seminarian but needs to pay off his debts to be able to enter. He's selling copies of his CD to pay it off. Read his plea and check out his music.
Christ is Risen!Dear Eric,
My name is Neven Pesa.
First – I want to say that I am a fan of your blog.
I hope they find that balloon riding priest! Otherwise he’ll be coming back with Enoch and Elijah!
You do not know me but the reason I am writing you is because I need your help. We may be neighbors soon.
I recently got accepted to the Melkite order of Basilian Salvatorians in Methuen, Massachussetts (whom you probably already know about.) I belong to the Melkite Church of the Virgin Mary in Brooklyn, NYC.
I am supposed to start my Novitiate this September 2008, but I first need to pay off the large college student-loan debt I’ve incurred from attending Franciscan University of Steubenville for 4 years.
To remedy my student loan debt - I just finished recording an original Catholic album to help raise money so that I become debt free in order that I may freely pursue my vocation, financially unhindered towards the priesthood.
I'm writing to you because I need all the help that I can get! And I think you and your blog can help me greatly by possibly posting my story or link on your site. You may not have a billion readers but I am more impressed by the quality of your readers than quantity. And I would think that your readers would at least find it very interesting.My story was recently featured on the Catholic Exchange
and RealClearReligion.com (one of my favorite Catholic blogs) that you can read here.
Also please check out my personal website:
I've also attached a Letter of Affiliation with the Basilians [omitted —eje] that legitimizes my cause on paper.
Eric, any feedback and advice from you would be greatly appreciated. I am grateful for your help and support and please note that you are included in my prayers!
Thanks and God Bless!
Eucharistically Yours,Neven Pesa
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 7:15 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 3, 2007
You go, Chuck
Chuck Colson exhorts Evangelicals to stand up for Catholics in the matter of this scurrilous attack on the Catholic Supreme Court justices in the aptly-named Philadelphia Inquirer.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 10:11 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
March 2, 2007
The best and worst dioceses
"A study of all 176 Catholic dioceses in the United States has produced some surprising results. The top five dioceses in order are: Knoxville, TN, Savannah, GA, Kalamazoo, MI, Alexandria, LA, and Pensacola-Tallahassee, FL." It was based upon 2005 statistics of diocesan ordinations, adult conversions, and number of priests. The study was published in Crisis Magazine. It consistently found that smaller dioceses do better, as do dioceses in hostile territory. Older, larger dioceses in comfortable territory, such as Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Hartford, ranked worst.
Here is the full piece I got from The Morley Institute:
A study of all 176 Catholic dioceses in the United States has produced some surprising results. The top five dioceses in order are: Knoxville, TN, Savannah, GA, Kalamazoo, MI, Alexandria, LA, and Pensacola-Tallahassee, FL.
This ranking will undoubtedly be controversial, especially when many of the best-known and most venerable dioceses are at or near the bottom of the list.
"The State of the Catholic Church in America," by Steven Wagner and Rev. Rodger Hunter-Hall, was published in the February issue of Crisis magazine. The findings of Wagner and Hunter-Hall are based upon 2005 statistics of diocesan ordinations, adult conversions, and number of priests. This data is published by P.J. Kennedy & Sons each year in the Official Catholic Directory.
Many older dioceses, such as Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Hartford were among the twenty lowest ranking dioceses. That such well-known dioceses received such a low ranking will be an eye-opener for Church leadership.
The contrast of the rankings of these larger dioceses with the success of small to moderate size dioceses led Wagner and Hunter-Hall to the conclusion that "there is a clear inverse linear relationship between the size of the diocese and the health of the diocese: As size increases vitality deteriorates."
Another conclusion drawn from the study was that the dioceses of the Northeast, in particular, are struggling. "Among the twenty-seven dioceses in the Northeast…the average ranking is 136." This ranking makes the Northeast region three times lower than other regions such as the Pacific Coast, the Midwest, the South, and the Rocky Mountains. What did Wagner and Hunter-Hall make of this? "The Church is…most healthy in that region that is traditionally the least hospitable to it…and is least healthy in that region where it has the longest history."
Some of the factors underlying the problems of old dioceses -- crumbling infrastructure, movement of the Catholic middle-class to the suburbs, immigration of baby-boomer Catholics to the South and Southwest--- fall outside the scope of the study. It's one challenge for a bishop to face the problem of Southern evangelicals seeking to "poach" Catholics out of parishes, and quite another to fund a century-old network of schools and hospitals with a shrinking base of committed laity.
These findings, needless to say, will create debate among Church watchers. To conclude that the oldest and largest dioceses in the United States are the least healthy is not going to be welcome news. And to promote the reputation of newer dioceses outside of the traditional centers of Catholic power will be resisted by those who want to keep their place at the head of the table.
Wagner and Hunter-Hall admit that their study has its limitations. "It is intended as a snapshot, not a comprehensive picture of what is going on in all 176 dioceses," says Wagner.
At a February 26 press conference in Washington, DC, the co-authors pointed out that there were significant data they would have liked to include in the study, but this data was not available. For example, they wanted to measure the vitality of the laity in the dioceses by factoring in mass attendance. However, mass attendance figures for each diocese are not available to the public. As Fr. Hunter-Hall said, "The Church is only as strong as its members' sacramental life." And as Wagner added, "We attempted to provide a first step in evaluating the best practices of dioceses based upon the objective data that was available."
Fr. Rodger Hunter-Hall was surprised by the results, particularly noting the success of the diocese of Tyler, Texas, created in 1980. "As a Texan I was surprised when the diocese of Tyler was carved out of the Archdiocese of Dallas. I questioned the wisdom of separating a diocese from the resources of Dallas. But we have seen that the bishop of a smaller diocese can have more of a direct impact on priests, education, and health care." The Archdiocese of Dallas was ranked 131 out of 176 compared to Tyler at 23.
The study will inevitably be criticized for its concentration on only two years of statistics; its comparison of 1995 to 2005. Wagner and Hunter-Hall concede that the scope of the study was somewhat limited. "Nonetheless," Wagner explains, "this study can be used as a management tool for the bishops to track their progress."
What will be perhaps the most controversial section of the study was its attempt to link diocesan vitality to the leadership of their bishops. Wagner and Hunter-Hall concluded, "There are striking commonalities among the most successful stewards of the American dioceses." They went on to summarize the similarities of successful bishops in the following way:
1. Successful bishops are joyful
2. Successful bishops assume personal responsibility for diocesan success or failure.
3. Successful bishops are unwilling to accept decline.
It's not a secret to anyone that bishops matter, but it is not common to start naming names. As a friend of mine commented to me after reading the study, "Bishops do not like to be scrutinized by the laity." Both Wagner and Hunter-Hall emphasized at the press conference that their intent was to offer support and encouragement to all bishops rather than putting all the praise and blame on their shoulders. "We know that there are other factors that are important in determining what happens in a diocese, but it is clear that ordinations, adult conversions, and number of clergy are directly influenced by the bishops' leadership."
Brian Saint Paul, editor of Crisis, plans to repeat this study, with some changes in methodology, in the coming years. "It will be important to see if the rankings change significantly, especially in regard to the larger and smaller dioceses," he said.
In the meantime, the Crisis study will generate much debate about what produces ordinations and conversions. Is it mainly due to the bishops? Is it the religious culture of the region? Is it the religious activism of the laity? Wagner and Hunter-Hall have begun an important public discussion regarding the future of the Church in the United States.
(The full report, "The State of the Catholic Church in America, Diocese by Diocese," can be read at http://crisismagazine.com/febmarch2007/hall.pdf.)
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 10:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 1, 2007
Interesting HPV facts
I got the following interesting snippet from the Family Research Council — kudos to those who exposed the Emperor's new clothes:
Although headlines are rampant with the suggestion that one in four women (between the ages of 14 and 59) is infected with HPV, the real shock of the study, released in the Journal of the American Medical Association, was somewhat buried. Lost in the panic surrounding the high HPV-infection rate is a footnote that should cause even greater concern for Gardasil advocates. Only 3.4% of the women studied had an infection that the new vaccine protects against. While many are touting the epidemic as justification for mandating the shots, the reality is that Merck's vaccine still leaves women vulnerable to a significant number of HPV strains, including those that cause 30% of the cases of cervical cancer. This news should give pause to Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) as he considers whether or not to sign a bill that would require the shots for schoolgirls. In an interview, Kaine said that he may try to amend the bill to include a more "generous opt-out provision" for parents. However, as FRC has said all along, the burden should be on the government--not parents--to convince Americans about the need for the vaccine. FRC is contacting Gov. Kaine and asking him to reassess his idea of expanding the opt-out criteria and instead promote an opt-in measure that would affirm parents' rights. In the meantime, legislators should ponder the greater cultural crisis of experimentation and promiscuity that created the epidemic in the first place. Along with the option of vaccination, states should educate children on an even better way to fight HPV--abstinence and monogamy.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 6:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 27, 2007
"Pass Along Sheet" on Discovery "documentary"
Here is a little write-up the president of Probe Ministries did on the claims of the Cameron documentary Discovery plans to air.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 11:09 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 18, 2007
How true
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 1:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 5, 2007
Child prodigy paints faith-filled pictures
Akiane Kramarik (she goes by her first name) is a 12 year old self-taught child prodigy who has been painting amazing pictures since she was six. She grew up with no religious training (her mother was an atheist), but started having visions of heaven and of God, which inspired her painting. You can tell her heart overflows with faith.
She has also started composing music.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 12:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 30, 2007
Facing the Giants DVD is outl
You may have heard about the movie Facing the Giants, the inspirational independent film about a high school football team that was seen by 1.5 million moviegoers last year. Not bad for a $100,000 budget. The DVD is now available everywhere you buy DVDs, including your favorite Christian stores (like Family, LifeWay, and Parable, though probably not all Catholic stores), along with the Targets and Best Buys of the world. If you get a chance, check out www.FacingTheGiants.com and watch the trailer. Show this film to your youth groups, get together and view it with your friends, or watch it as a family.
Here is a description of the movie:
From the award-winning producers of FLYWHEEL comes a new, action-packed, family-friendly drama about a high school football coach who draws up a new game plan for his team … and himself.
In his six years of coaching, Grant Taylor has never had a winning season. Even the hope of a new season is squelched when the best player on his Shiloh Eagles decides to transfer schools. After losing their first three games of the season, the coach discovers a group of fathers are plotting to have him fired. Combined with pressures at home, Coach Taylor has lost hope in his battle against fear and failure.
However, an unexpected challenge helps him find a purpose bigger than just victories. Daring to trust God to do the impossible, Coach Taylor and the Eagles discover how faith plays out on the field … and off.
With God, all things are possible …
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 2:52 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 29, 2007
A tale of two marches
Here is a sad story I got from the Family Research Council about the pro-life march versus an anti-war march:
What a difference an ideology makes. Last Monday, 200,000 pro-lifers descended on the nation's capital to peacefully protest 34 years of abortion-on-demand. Despite record crowds and a line-up of speakers that included President Bush by phone, the March for Life earned little more than a footnote in the nation's news. Days later, radical anti-war protestors staged a march in Washington that mustered only 10,000, and the event made the front page of nearly every newspaper in America. Yet for all the media the small demonstration received, few news outlets reported the true headline of the day. According to reports, hundreds of demonstrators were allowed to take the steps of the U.S. Capitol during the march and desecrate the property with "anarchist symbols." When police formed a security line to stop them, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Phillip Morse ordered his men to fall back and allow the protestors to "exercise their First Amendment rights" by spray-painting the Capitol grounds with graffiti. One source at the scene said that Morse issued an order that no one was to be arrested for desecrating America's and arguably the world's greatest symbol of democracy. In an e-mail on his actions, Morse writes, "The graffiti was easily removed by the [Architect of the Capitol] staff... It is [our] duty and responsibility to protect the Capitol complex, while allowing the public to exercise their [freedom of speech]." Imagine the response had Christians "trespassed" onto this public property and prayed for our leaders! I dare say the outcome would have been quite different. Unlike last Monday's peaceful pro-life protest, this mob of liberals was given access and leniency to commit criminal acts on government property. This special treatment is unacceptable. The Capitol Chief of Police reports directly to the Speaker of the House, a title which now belongs to one of the demonstrators' most outspoken allies, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Surely, the tens of millions of dollars the American people have invested in the security of their Capitol means there is videotape that will assist in the identification and arrest of the perpetrators. Speaker Pelosi should direct that investigation and prosecution go forward.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 10:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 25, 2007
Islam's beef
Dinesh D'Souza argues in this article that the Muslim extremist hate us not because we are Christian, but because we are secular. Many people cast the conflict in terms of "Christian fundamentalism" versus "Islamic fundamentalism", but he says it is because we are imposing our secular values around the world and supporting secular Muslim dictators. In fact, in his May 2006 letter to President Bush, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faulted America not for being Christian, but for not being Christian enough. It's an interesting thesis. I'm not convinced yet though it is not a case of trying to fit the facts to the agenda, but it's certainly plausible. D'Souza, whom I respect a lot, certainly has an unconventional view about relations with the Muslims. He is, by the way, a rare example of a prominent Catholic of Indian descent (Roman Rite, note his Portugese name).
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 1:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 21, 2006
Boycott worked
Good news! Wal-Mart heard our pleas!
From AFA:
November 21, 2006
Please help us get this information into the hands of as many people as possible by forwarding it to your entire email list of family and friends.
Wal-Mart Says It Will Not Make Corporate Contributions To Support Or Oppose Controversial Issues
Dear Eric,
You have made a difference! Wal-Mart has announced they "will no longer make corporate contributions to support or oppose controversial issues unless they directly relate to their ability to serve their customers." AFA is pleased with this announcement.
Wal-Mart made the announcement Tuesday afternoon.
In response to Wal-Mart's statement, AFA has decided to cancel its efforts of encouraging people to not shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club this Friday and Saturday.
We believe that Wal-Mart will remain neutral in cultural battles.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 11:24 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 20, 2006
Wal-Mart/Sam's Boycott
I got the following today from the American Family Association. I say don't shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club ever for a few reasons, but if that is too much of a burden, at least I urge you to do the following:
We have asked our supporters not to shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club this coming Friday or Saturday. Thus far nearly 400,000 families have agreed not to shop at Wal-Mart on those days. We suggest you shop with your local merchants.
Here is why we are asking you not to shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club this Friday or Saturday:
- Wal-Mart gave $60,000 to homosexual group to support homosexual agenda in the workplace
- Wal-Mart made a generous donation to the Northwest Arkansas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center
- Wal-Mart sells pro-homosexual items from their website
- Wal-Mart asks for, and receives, permission to join Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
- Wal-Mart invites homosexual ad agency to headquarters for 2-day seminar to indoctrinate employees.
- Last March, Wal-Mart chose to promote "Brokeback Mountain" video over a top-selling family-oriented film. Wal-Mart began taking advance orders of the homosexual love movie, "Brokeback Mountain." A large display greeted customers when they walked through the front doors of the store. "Brokeback Mountain" was released the same day as best selling pro-family movie, "The Chronicles of Narnia" which Wal-Mart did not promote.
Click Here to Sign the Petition/Pledge Not To Shop
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 10:50 PM | Comments (16) | TrackBack
October 24, 2006
What the media has done
I'm kind of using "media" in the loose sense here since I don't know if it's the fashion industry, Hollywood, or someone else who's promoting this, but have a look at the pathetic waifs in the following photos (click article continuation link). These models look utterly unnourished. Some of them are like skeletons. Is this what we've come to? This is beyond promoting an unrealistic view of "slim". I am reminded of the Renaissance when plump women were considered desirable because they had been well-fed.
P.S. Let me add a disclaimer: I do not know the source of these photos, so journalistically, they are dubious. As a reader pointed out in the comments we don't know they weren't photoshopped. It would be quite a trick but I'm sure it's possible. If they are fakes, obviously someone faked them for a reason: to make a social commentary on the trend in fashion models, and it's a valid commentary.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 9:00 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 25, 2006
Plan B approved
Just got this from Grassfire.org:
As feared, The Food and Drug Administration has announced its approval of Plan B (known as the "morning after pill"), to be sold over-the-counter for women age 18 and older.
Plan B is an exceedingly strong emergency contraception pill. In fact, according to Planned Parenthood, Plan B can be equivalent to taking as many as 40 progesterone birth control pills--which are only available by prescription!
Aside from this case, the FDA has never approved an over-the-counter medicine when a lower dose of the same drug requires a prescription.
This "dual status" (over-the-counter for women over the age of 16 and prescription-only for those who are younger) is a new type of approval plan--not authorized by Congress, and hasn't undergone a formal rule-making process.
Also in question is the FDA's ability to ensure that store clerks are checking age ID for Plan B. Reservations about illegal resale to minors, concerns about child predators and rapist obtaining the drug to cover their crimes, have also been swept aside.
Serious concerns also remain about the potential deleterious effects of Plan B on women, girls and nascent human life.
Grassfire has put together a number of key links to give you greater insight about Plan B and the FDA announcement:
FDA announcement:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01436.html
Acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach's memo:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/planB/avememo.pdf.
Key websites explaining concerns with the availability of Plan B:
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11365/BLI/dotcommentary/index.htm,
http://www.cwfa.org/hot-topics.asp#map
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IF06H01&f=WA06H29
http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/contraception/morningafterpill.htm.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 3:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 7, 2006
Exploiting kids for commercial gain
I just got this report from the American Family Association:
New School Program Will Exploit School Kids For Private Financial Gain
The Washington Post has announced that a new company, BusRadio, plans to install radio equipment in school buses as a way to target corporate advertising using school children as a captive audience. The company's first pilot project is in Massachusetts, and is scheduled to begin in September, targeting children as young as five. Click Here to read the Washington Post article.
After Massachusetts, BusRadio plans to go nationwide with their program. Children riding school buses will be forced to listen to the music and commercial ads while on the bus.
The primary purpose of the BusRadio is to make money for their company. And the way they plan to do that is to sell their captive audience to advertisers.
School children should not be used as a vehicle to sell commercial advertising. This program needs to be stopped before it is started.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 11:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 3, 2006
Threats in Canada
I received the following on the Family Research Council email list. We should pray for Canada and their unique situation there (not having a First Amendment):
When an unapologetically conservative talk show host in Alberta, Canada's most conservative province, posted a letter on his website, the feathers flew. Rev. Stephen Boisson's letter criticized the main aspects of the homosexual agenda in Canada. Furious, a professor at the University of Calgary filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission. The petulant prof wants to shut down three websites--concernedchristians.ca, freetospeak.ca and freedomradionetwork.ca
So far, Craig Chandler, the talk show host, has faced legal costs approaching $100,000. His fees could run as high as $250,000. "The thing about a Human Rights Commission complaint is that it doesn't matter if it's right or wrong, you still have to foot the bill. If I want to get our money back, I have to take them to civil court," he said. And that, Chandler points out, will only cost more money. This is another powerful example of how the left misuses government to harass Christians and suppress free speech on important public issues. Canada does not have a First Amendment. We do. But for how long?
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 11:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 12, 2006
"God or the Girl" Documentary
I just got the following interesting information from Catholic Exchange about an A&E series called "God or the Girl" which is a serious and respectful look at priestly vocational discernment. It sounds like it is worth a look. Here is what they said:
GOTG ANNOUNCEMENT
By Tom Allen, Editor and President of Catholic Exchange
We've been reporting the previews for weeks, but now the time has come to finally enjoy positive commercial television in prime time - programming that affirms the Catholic Church, and honors vocations to the priesthood and the witness of faithful young Catholics.
This Easter Sunday, April 16th, on the A&E Network, a five-part "reality" series entitled God or the Girl premieres, giving viewers a personal encounter with four Catholic young men who allowed A&E to journey with them as they contemplated the most important decision of their lives - the choice between priesthood or marriage - God or the girl. Catholic Exchange has been involved in this project since its inception and we are encouraging our viewers to tune in!
Although it sounds decidedly "pop culture-ish," this USCCB-endorsed docu-series takes a surprisingly sober and serious look at the vocations discernment process. Its portrayal of what pious young men endure in deciding between a life of full-on service to the Church versus a family and business career is powerful.
This is a unique opportunity for the Catholic Church and the culture at large. Just as the movie industry relies on box office sales to measure the "vote" of the American public on opening weekend, the television industry relies on ratings to decide whether to continue certain types of programming. Therefore, the more families that tune in to God or the Girl this Easter Sunday the better. So let's bring the show to the attention of our family and friends, and together show the television industry what sort of programming we want to see. If this show is successful, you can bet that more of its kind will be on the way.
The full series schedule is as follows:
PART I - EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 16, @ 9PM EASTERN/8C MOST IMPORTANT
PART 2 - EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 16, @ 10PM/9C
PART 3 - EASTER MONDAY, APRIL 17, @ 9PM/8C
PART 4 - MONDAY, APRIL 17, @ 10PM/9C
FINALE (PART 5) - SUNDAY, APRIL 23, @ 10PM/9C
To read the USCCB's positive review of the series, click here.
See also these other recent articles:
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 10:19 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 24, 2006
Photos of St. Bernadette
St. Bernadette's Body after 122 years!
These are the pictures of St. Bernadette Soubirous who died 122 years ago in Lourdes, France and was buried, her incorrupt body was discovered after the church officials decided to examine it. Her body is still fresh until today and if you ever go to Nevers, France, you can see her body in the convent in Nevers.
She looks like she hasn't even been buried yet!
Many miracles have taken place in this place of Lourdes and still do until today.
What a marvelous testimony to our faith and to the truth of Jesus. I love the incorruptibles. It's just a beautiful sign of the Resurrection to come and a fulfillment of the prophecy, "And I will not suffer my Holy One to see decay."
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 12:46 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 10, 2006
Cool animation of the day
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 10:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 23, 2005
Salutary mischief?
Received this today (and heard it from another source yesterday). It's just the sneaky sort of thing I might do:
Want to have some fun this CHRISTMAS? Send the ACLU a CHRISTMAS card with no return address!
They are working so very hard to get rid of the CHRISTMAS part of this holiday, we should all send them a nice CHRISTIAN card to brighten up their dark, sad little world.
Two tons of Christmas cards would freeze their operations because they wouldn't know if any were regular mail containing contributions.
So spend 37 cents and tell the ACLU to leave Christmas alone. Be sure to say "Wishing You A Merry Christmas!" Here's their address:
ACLU
125 Broad Street
18th Floor New York, NY 10004
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 11:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 17, 2005
AFA calls for Target boycott
The American Family Association is calling for a boycott of Target over Thanksgiving weekend because they have banned "Merry Christmas" and Salvation Army kettles. Sign a petition here, if you wish.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 11:32 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 13, 2005
What happens when you have a German Pope
(thanks to ProfessorBainbridge.com)
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 8:25 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 10, 2005
Sometimes I feel this way!
In Jerusalem, a female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, everyday, for a long, long time. So, she went to check it out and there he was! She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, she approached him for an interview.
"I'm Abby Smith from CNN. Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?"
"60 years."
"That's amazing! What do you pray for?"
"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims? I pray for all the hatred to stop. I pray for all our children to grow up in safety and with friendship."
"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"
"Like I'm talking to a @#$%^&' wall."
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 8:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 8, 2005
His Brother's Eyes
I got this little blurb from someone I know:
Life Magazine is now being sent out in some Sunday newspapers. This past week they had an article entitled, "His Brother's Eyes" about 3-year-old twins. You can see the blurb and a picture here. That's going away by the end of the week, though.
Basically, the boys' parents were told they might have to chose one of the fetus' because doctors did not expect both to survive. The parents chose to keep both. The doctors told the husband he may have to chose between his wife and his sons. He prayed for both.
When it was discovered that one twin is blind, the boys' mother was upset. Her father told her it could be worse; at least they were both alive.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 9:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 5, 2005
(signed) God
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 8:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 4, 2005
Federal Law to Protect Terri
Please call your Congressmen and ask them to support this bill to protect Terri and those like her!
Congress Can Act to Help Save Terri Schindler-Schiavo says National Right To Life
To: National Desk
Contact: Megan Dillon, Media Relations for National Right To Life, 202-626-8825
WASHINGTON, March 3 /Christian Wire Service/ -- The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) is calling on Congress to enact a bill to be introduced by Representative Dave Weldon, M.D. (R-Fl-15) that would give the Schindler family access to a federal court to argue for the life of their daughter, Terri Schindler-Schiavo.
"Congress can act to ensure a federal court hearing on whether or not Terri will die of starvation and dehydration," said Lori Kehoe, Congressional Liaison for NRLC's Robert Powell Center for Medical Ethics.
"A proceeding known as the 'writ of habeas corpus,' which is protected by the U.S. Constitution, has been used for centuries to give a hearing to those whose liberty has been constrained by state courts in violation of the Constitution or federal laws. We call on all citizens to immediately contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives and urge them to support Representative Weldon's bill to amend the Habeas Corpus Act to allow its use when a state court orders denial of food or fluids in cases like Terri's."
Representative Weldon has announced that he will introduce the Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act on Tuesday, March 8, 2005.
NRLC is the nation's largest pro-life organization, with 50 state affiliates and approximately 3,000 local affiliates nationwide. NRLC works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, and assisted suicide.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 10:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 17, 2005
Adoption Bureaucracy Help
I received the following from a friend:
Date: 2/17/2005
Dear Friends,
Good friends, and the two girls they are trying to adopt, need help.
Bill and Katie Worthen, currently have a wonderful family with 5 children between the ages of 10 and 3. Bill is in banking and Katie is a pediatric nurse. They are great Catholic parents. For the last 2 years, they have been pursuing adoption of foster kids through Catholic Charities (and DSS) to add to their family. They have taken all the "adoption classes", added on to their house, and had, and passed, all the "home visits".
Two sisters- "the girls"-are legally available for adoption. They are 5 and 11. They have been raised by their grandfather and great-grandmother. A year ago, they were placed in two separate foster homes because of their guardians' failing health. Their grandfather died at the end of last year. Their great-grandmother is terminally ill. The 5 year old has scoliosis and will need surgery in the future; the 11 year old is considered "too old" for adoption.
DSS has a "policy" of 6 children per household. In order to adopt the two siblings, the Worthens would need a waiver.
Bill and Katie applied for a waiver to this rule more than 5 weeks ago, so that they might be able to keep siblings together. The Worthen children attend Catholic school in Weymouth. Last week, the Worthens had to register their children for next year. So as not to miss registering the girls, Katie called the Catholic Charities' social worker they were working with and was assured that the waiver was "just a matter of time and paperwork". They received verbal assurances from the social worker that the man in charge of the waiver saw no reason for it not to go through. The good news was even shared with "the girls" and their dying grandmother, who were all ecstatic that the girls would be together with 5 new siblings.
Two days later, the Worthens received a call telling them that the waiver had not been approved. When Kate expressed incredulity with DSS reneging on the waiver, she was given a phone number to contact so that the could get counseling to deal with their "grief."
Their "grief" is not the point. Two girls will not be welcomed with open arms into a loving home because of DSS bureaucracy. The Worthens, and the girls, are being wronged because the state feels that 7 children is too many. Two natural siblings who have already been through so much will be kept apart, and in foster care because of DSS's policy to limit family size.
The Worthens need our help and prayers. There are four things you can do:
1) Please join us in calling Kevin Barboza at DSS -(617)748-2000 [before June 1st, 2005] and tell him how outrageous and cruel this bureaucratic decision is.
2) Please write Letters to the Editor of your local newspaper to raise public awareness that decisions critical to the future of children are being made based on "policy" not commonsense and care for the welfare of children.
3) If you, or anyone you know, have any connections that could aid in expediting a reversal of this decision and the execution of this adoption, please call us so that we can connect you with the Worthens.
4) Pass this on to others [if you receive it before June 1st, 2005].
Thanks on behalf of the Worthens and "the girls",
Bonnie and Matt Kunath
Bonnie@MKNetworking.com
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 10:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 16, 2005
Church Bloopers
Thank God for church ladies with typewriters and computers. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:
Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary
Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.'
The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight:
"Searching for Jesus."
Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the
recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those
things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.
The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a
conflict.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone
who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious
pleasure to the congregation.
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery
downstairs.
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help
they can get.
Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more
transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of
Pastor Jack's sermons.
The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will
sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church.
So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music
will follow.
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?"
Come early and listen to our choir practice.
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several
new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled.
Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
Please place your donation in the envelope a long with the deceased person
you want remembered.
Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and
gracious hostility.
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be
seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from
the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are
invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would send
him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the
back door.
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church
basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this
tragedy.
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please
use large double door at the side entrance.
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan
last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 1:40 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 9, 2005
The Captives
There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak..."I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there, son?" "Just some old birds," came the reply.
"What are you gonna do with them?" I asked
"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."
"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?"
"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."
The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?"
"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"
"How much?" the pastor asked again.
The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"
The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.
The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.
Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.
One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"
"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.
Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"
"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly. "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.
"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"
"How much?" He asked again.
Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."
Jesus said, "DONE!"
Then He paid the price.
The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 10:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 2, 2005
Indulgences
Forwarded:
Would you like a single page you could carry around that contains a complete explanation of all the indulgences available for Lent, Triduum and the Year of the Eucharist? (the Holy Father just promulgated two new ones!)
Go to www.bridegroompress.com to download a free one-page flier that not only explains it all, but also contains the complete texts of the prayers that carry plenary indulgences in these seasons!
Also, don't forget, you can receive a free once-a-week short set of quotes from the earliest Christians commenting on each Sunday Gospels. Join the new Gospel Commentary e-mail list "Through the Fathers' Eyes" at fathers-subscribe@bridegroompress.com
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 2:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Hasidic reggae
Matisyahu. Pretty good, actually! White guy (obviously) grew up in a non-religious home where he listened to reggae, had a conversion experience three years ago and decided to do a Hasidic version of it. Religious lyrics, too.
http://www.hasidicreggae.com/index.php?section=file&album_id=8&id=57
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January 22, 2005
Ramifications of Divorce
I just received this missive by Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse from To The Source on engageculture.com. No clue how I got subscribed to this list, but it has some interesting stuff:
Dr. Phil’s new book Family First has one feature that sets it apart from the crowded shelves of family self-help books: his chapter on divorced and blended families. He has seen first hand that the official line we’ve been given about divorce and remarriage is misleading at best and down-right false at worst. You know the the “happy talk” I’m talking about: Divorce is no problem, if....
If the mother has enough money, if she spends enough time with the kids, they’ll do just fine. If the parents continue to work together in a loving cooperative way, the children will be better off than with a family life of continual strife. If the stepdad is loving and attentive, remarriage is no problem for kids. If the children know that their parents love them, they will have minimal difficulties adjusting to the necessary changes in their parents’ lives.
Dr. Phil knows from experience that those huge “ifs” don’t automatically occur in real life. Making those “ifs” come true takes an almost super-human effort. Because he is a positive type of guy, he doesn’t focus on the negatives. But by spelling out in detail what the biological and step parents need to do and not do, he makes it clear that divorce, remarriage and stepparenting is no picnic.
Dr. Phil’s new book Family First has one feature that sets it apart from the crowded shelves of family self-help books: his chapter on divorced and blended families. He has seen first hand that the official line we’ve been given about divorce and remarriage is misleading at best and down-right false at worst. You know the the “happy talk” I’m talking about: Divorce is no problem, if....
If the mother has enough money, if she spends enough time with the kids, they’ll do just fine. If the parents continue to work together in a loving cooperative way, the children will be better off than with a family life of continual strife. If the stepdad is loving and attentive, remarriage is no problem for kids. If the children know that their parents love them, they will have minimal difficulties adjusting to the necessary changes in their parents’ lives.
Dr. Phil knows from experience that those huge “ifs” don’t automatically occur in real life. Making those “ifs” come true takes an almost super-human effort. Because he is a positive type of guy, he doesn’t focus on the negatives. But by spelling out in detail what the biological and step parents need to do and not do, he makes it clear that divorce, remarriage and stepparenting is no picnic.
Many apologists for easy divorce used to assume that a lack of money caused the problems of single parenting. But social scientists who study family patterns closely are no longer so sanguine. They have found, for instance, that adding a stepparent to a single parent home does increase the financial resources available to the child, but that the presence of stepparents doesn’t necessarily help the child. In fact, in some ways the stepparent situation is more complicated and difficult than the single parent situation. Specifically, children with stepparents are more likely to have emotional problems. Dr. Phil’s material gives a clue as to why that might be the case.
He states, for instance, “It is my strong belief that unless you as the stepparent are added to the family when the children are very young, it will most likely be very difficult for you to discipline your spouse’s children.” Now, what kinds of observation might have led Dr. Phil to that conclusion?
He has seen, and I bet you have too, situations in which the kids resent discipline from the stepparent. A child disturbed by his parents’ divorce can make family life hell on earth. A wounded child can disrupt their parent’s new marriage. It is easy enough to understand the dynamic at work. Kids naturally resist any discipline, even though they need it. Children test boundaries even though children are profoundly comforted by having limits. Unless the husband and wife are absolutely on the same page, it is very easy for kids to triangulate between them. All parents have to deal with this problem.
Stepparenting is complicated by the fact that the parents are not naturally on equal footing in their relationship with the child. The biological parent already has a relationship with the child, and the step parent is stepping into the flow in mid-stream. The children and the biological parent may already have developed an “us against the world” posture from living in what Dr. Phil calls, the “divorce foxhole,” with all its stress. The biological parent can become protective toward the child, which is fine in itself. But if that protectiveness takes the form of shielding the child from any unpleasantness, including unpleasant consequences of their own behavior, the child can end up controlling the family with his “hurt” feelings. Statements such as “You aren’t my REAL dad” or “you aren’t REALLY my mom,” become loaded weapons in the family. A vindictive child can use these wounding words as a plausible excuse for that all-too-typical resistance.
Dr. Phil handles this material very gingerly, sensitively and without judgment. But he makes it clear that being a stepparent is a genuine challenge. Reading the chapter on single-parent families with an open mind, leads inevitably to the conclusion that marriage makes it easier to be a good parent. If you are married to your child’s other parent, and are on good working terms with them, raising successful children is going to be much easier and more straightforward. The happy talk we have been given that “children of divorce do just fine” is simply untrue. Dr. Phil does not come right out and bang the reader over the head. But the conclusion is almost impossible to avoid: successfully blending a family requires a lot of work.
Pastors should consider giving this chapter to couples contemplating divorce. Dr. Phil might help these struggling couples see that divorce won’t necessarily solve every problem they now face. As parents, they will still have to interact with each other, even after divorce. Sometimes, brand new problems emerge while old problems are simply transferred to a different arena.
I have often thought that if people worked as hard at making marriage work as they do at making divorce work, they might stay married. With a more accurate image of how much effort stepparenting really takes, people might be inclined to work harder at keeping their marriages together. Dr. Phil’s new book, Family First, is just the thing to give them that dose of reality.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 9:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 21, 2005
Catholic Morals Proven Right, again
I received this interesting forward today:
Read below how non-Christian sociologists have proven that the Catholic Church’s teachings upholding the bond of marriage and against artificial contraception are necessary for a healthy society. This news article should be reprinted in every newspaper, and especially every Catholic newspaper.
The Facts of Life & Marriage
http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=18-01-038-f
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January 4, 2005
Seven Daily Habits
The Seven Daily Habits of Holy Apostolic People by Father John McCloskey
I read it and his Seven Habits will surprise no one. While not all of them are my style, they can certainly bear fruit if done sincerely and with devotion.
I'd like to present a list of Seven Daily Prayers for Effective Holiness:
1) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
2) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, glory to you.
3) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, I put my trust in you.
4) Lord, increase my faith: I believe, help my unbelief.
5) Give me a heart of unconditional love; may I love as You love.
6) May every word I speak be full of grace and truth and sincerity; may I always speak your word and do your will.
7) Give me all the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
#2 is a bit vague but it means glorifying God for whatever happens, in all circumstances good and bad, and accepting all the suffering that comes your way in reparation for yours own sins, for the sins of those you know and love, and for the sins of the whole world.
These are basically a summary of the much longer prayers I put on the web page I posted earlier.
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 1:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 22, 2004
The Wedding Feast
Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it
up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope
again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address.
She read the letter:
Dear Ruth:
I'm going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like
to stop by for a visit.
Love Always, Jesus
Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would
the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to
offer." With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets.
"Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run
down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her
purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well,
I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least."
She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread,
a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk..leaving Ruth with
grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt
good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.
"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?"
Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed
two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them
dressed in little more than rags.
"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been
living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and
we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady, we'd
really appreciate it."
Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly
she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really
wanted to. "Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All
I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important
guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."
"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man put his
arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley.
As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.
Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley
after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out
something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.
"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"
"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she
was shivering.
"You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this
one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's
shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the
street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.
"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too
The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him.
She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she
noticed another envelope in her mailbox. "That's odd. The mailman
doesn't usually come twice in one day."
She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.
Dear Ruth:
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And
thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.
Love Always Jesus
The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer
noticed.
Pray for us, Venerable Solanus Casey!
Pray for us, St. Jude!
Pray for us, Servant of God Rich Mullins!
Posted by Eric Ewanco at 5:11 PM | Comments (0)