The Fellowship of the Unashamed

An Interesting Perspective on Faith


This was sent to me by my friend Norm Sutherland, probably because he knows I like to dig into things and figure out where they came from.  His reference was to Patrick Madrid, a Catholic Apologist, who claimed not to have written it, who blogs here, and who has his web site Surprised by Truth here.


I saw it attributed to Dr. Bob Moorehead, a pastor for 29 years from the NW of the USA, and his book Words Aptly Written.  I have not dug deeper than that, though it was interesting to see some of the attributions.


This is a mouthful.

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."

The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.

The decision has been made. I am a disciple of

Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down,

back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present

makes sense, and my future is secure.

I am finished and done with low living, sight walking,

small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams,

chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position,

promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I now live by

presence, lean by faith, love by patience,

lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace

is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my

road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,

my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought,

compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back,

diluted, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the

presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy,

ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander

in the maze of mediocrity.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until

Heaven returns, give until I drop, preach until all know,

and work until He comes. And when He comes to get

His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.

My colors will be clear.

In God We Still Trust

Diamond Rio and a Poem with the Same Theme


The theme of "In God we still trust" came to me from two different directions yesterday.  Here they both are.


The Diamond Rio song came to mind from a Snopes.com comment on it.





The Church in the Weeds poem came to me from My Dear Wife who received it from her friend Shirley.

'CHURCH IN THE WEEDS' Just two little boys walking down this dusty lane... They came upon this old white house... With broken window panes The paint was faded, the shine was gone... The grass had grown so high... Still they made their little feet, Go see what was inside. They opened up the squeaky door and then it came to light... This must have been an old church house... Once upon a time. Dirty, dusty wooden pews... A pulpit that still stood.... A Bible lay upon it... Though the pages weren't too good.. An offering plate and song books too... Were lying on the floor. They must have left this old church fast... The day they closed these doors.. And over in the corner... A piano was still there, It must have played a pretty tune... But I guess nobody cared. So little Bill looked up at Tommy... And Tommy looked at Bill... Why don't we clean this old church up, and get these old pews filled?' They took a rag and wiped the dust... To try and make things shine... And then they took the offering plate... And put in it their last dime. They took a broom and swept the floor... And picked up broken glass... They got it all so nice and neat... And then they mowed the grass. They lifted up the old church sign... And stood it by a tree.... Right down by that old dirt road where every one could see. They ran back home, to find Daddy gone but their Momma was inside.. Just to find her hurt again... Where Daddy had made her cry. 'Don't cry Momma, wipe those tears,' Little Bill and Tommy smiled... 'Cause we have a big surprise for you... Just down the road a mile..' Hand in hand they tugged at her, until they made her run.... 'What is it Bill, Oh Tommy, just what have you two kids done?' And then they came upon the house... Once hidden by the weeds... And there it stood a country church... Just like it used to be. 'But what is it, Mother? What's with your tears? We thought this would bring you joy.' 'Yes, but hush kids now and listen close... My two sweet precious boys.' They both got quiet and stood real still... For the words they heard so true.... Was Daddy praying in the church... With his head bowed on the pew. 'Forgive me Lord! Forgive me Lord! Though I'm not worthy of Your love... Shine down on this sinner man, sweet Salvation from above.' 'For I've been out in the world, you know... Living my life all wrong... Until I came upon this church; the place where I belong.' 'I never noticed it before... All those times I passed it up... I guess I wasn't looking, Lord.... Or maybe I was drunk..' 'Bless oh Lord, yes, bless oh Lord.... The one who made me see.. This little church that used to hide.... Behind all those tall weeds..' And then he raised his head and stood... With his hands high in the air... To find two dirty, tear-faced boys.... With Momma standing there. They ran up to him, hugged him tight... As their tears fell on the floor. 'Don't worry kids; I'm not the Dad, the one you've known before.' Things are different for us now... So keep on those pretty smiles.. And let's go gather people in... To walk down these church aisles.' Then Bill looked up at Tommy... And Tommy looked at Bill... 'Come on brother, let's get to work... To get these old pews filled.' 'For we need no special blessing.. For cleaning up this church.... 'cause, God gave us back our Daddy... And that's more than gold is worth.' Sunday morning, pews all filled and smiles on every face... Especially two little country boys... The ones who found this place. Though it was hid back in the weeds... And so far out of sight... Nothing's ever hard to find if you're walking toward God's light. 1-John 1:7 'we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.' IN GOD WE STILL TRUST

" I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH

CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME " AMEN

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND MAY
ANGELS BE WITH YOU
WHEREVER YOU  ALL MAY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Friend Passes Away

Joan T. Noll

As I have written in the past, My Dear Wife and I have the good fortune to be able to spend some of our winters in Tucson Arizona.  Though we go there to escape the cold Canadian winter, we have been able to become part of a community of faith down there at Our Lady of Fatima Parish.

We were originally exposed to the parish as we attended Sunday mass, but about a year and 1/2 ago, I took a trip to Arizona by myself for several weeks, and became more involved in the activities of the community.  I went to get some time to think, and because My Dear Wife and I were struggling with our relationship at the time. 

One thing that helps me keep things in perspective is to attend daily mass, and so even though my health was not particularly good at the time, I made daily mass my sacrifice and commitment.  I encountered a number of people there who accepted me and were kind to me during that 7 weeks.  When My Dear Wife and I returned later in the winter, they accepted us both, and we have made some good friends there.

Recently, one of those friends passed away, sadly.  Joan Noll was a member of the lay Carmelite community, sang in one of the choirs, was a lector often at daily mass, and with her husband Jimmy was present at the sacrifice of the mass each day.  In 1987, they moved from New Jersey to Arizona, largely because of Joan's health, and in her at least, the Joisey accent hung on.

Every day for 7 weeks, I sat behind them in the next pew, and watched their love for each other, and their prayer devotion, and their participation in the community.  They had been married to each other for 39 years, and nothing had diminished in all those years.  Joan was born in Garfield, NJ on December 18, 1934.  Jimmy had been a sailor in the Korean War.

I observed them daily at the sign of peace.  Jimmy would turn to her, call her Dearie and kiss her lightly but tenderly.  Their love reminded me of how much I love My Dear Wife, and helped us to weather the storm that was going on at the time for us.  Joanie prayed for us, and reached out from time to time at just the right moment.  Jimmy was her valiant sword carrier, husband, lover and best friend.

Last winter, they were not there very often, and they were missed.  Joan's health was failing, and her heart was problematic.  Still they were there in spirit, when they were unable to attend.

Joan passed away on May 24, 2010, and a Memorial Mass was held for her on June 8, 2010 at Our Lady of Fatima.

Unfortunately, we could not attend, and so we remember her in our prayers.

God Bless You, Joan.

America: The Last Best Hope for Mankind

Guest Opinion: From a Canadian Friend

As I was reading some things yesterday, and pondering on my second favourite country in the world, The United States of America, I wrote the following article that was published in Catholic Online.

Usually my articles do not generate much in the way of comments, no more than my blog postings.  But, this one generated a comment that I will put at the end of the article.

On May 23, 2010 Dennis Prager was with Sarah Palin, and Hugh Hewitt speaking at the University of Denver. Mr. Prager was asked what single threat to America was the greatest. He stated "the greatest threat facing America . . . is that we have not passed on what it means to be American to this generation." I beg you, my brothers and sisters, to dig back into the why of America, to the founding principles of your great land, and to make them important once again, not just as words in the mind, but as words that speak to the heart

LONDON, ONTARIO (Catholic Online) - My Dear American Brothers and Sisters:


As a 60 year old Canadian male from Southern Ontario, it has been my privilege and honour to live next to the greatest nation on earth, most of the time.  In recent years, My Dear Wife and I have also had the opportunity to spend much of our winters in the American southwest in Arizona.  I love America.  I love the principles on which America was founded.  I deplore what is happening in your great land at this time.


When you live in Southern Ontario, you become inculcated into the American dream, the American ideology, and the American psyche.  It is as inevitable as NBC, ABC, CBS, and even ESPN.  Many of our younger Canadians, if asked who was the head of our government would probably say President Obama, not our Prime Minister, what's his name. That's how much we are influenced by your nation.


It is sad but true that there are many ugly Americans.  I have seen them in the Caribbean islands, in Europe as I have travelled to both, and I see many of them when I travel in America as well.  Their ugliness is in their ignorance of anything outside the borders of the American mainland, including Alaska and Hawaii.  However, America is in itself so vast, so complex, and so beautiful a land that this can all be forgiven and laid aside.


You did come late to two fairly large dustups, the first and second World Wars.  But, you came, and when you were there, you brought the balance of power to the side of justice for those who were oppressed.  You went to fight and many to die in Vietnam, and to Iraq twice, and you are also in Afghanistan.  The cynics would say you fought over oil, or economics.  You cannot tell that to the relatives of those who have died in each of these fights, and none of them died in vain.  Your presence in all of these conflicts is a significant sign that you care about the world we all inhabit, and I salute you and particularly those men and women who put their lives on the line.


In our stay in Arizona, we reside in an over 55 recreational vehicle resort.  There we have met many fine Americans, and many of the men are young enough to have participated in Vietnam, and some are even there from WWII.  These men and their wives bleed red, white and blue, and I admire their patriotism, and have wondered how a nation that has such committed men and women, who when called, would fight to protect the values that have made America great in nations far away, could be losing its way today.


I have studied with admiration the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance, and other documents that articulate America's great heritage and destiny, and have been saddened to see this greatest of all nations on earth wallowing in fiscal irresponsibility, and moral depravity at the most critical time in the history of mankind, when the godly values on which America was founded are so important to show to all citizens of the world. 


This is not an exercise in finger pointing.  As a Canadian, I am well aware of the loss of those same values in our country, and I am ashamed of our own behaviour.  But, the world looks on us differently, which does not excuse us, and puts a higher demand for integrity on America.


On May 23, 2010 Dennis Prager was with Sarah Palin, and Hugh Hewitt speaking at the University of Denver.  Mr. Prager was asked what single threat to America was the greatest.  He stated "the greatest threat facing America . . . is that we have not passed on what it means to be American to this generation."


He also paraphrased Nietzsche when he said that a society does not survive if it does not have a reason to survive, and concluded that this society has lost the why, not the how."


This was a light bulb moment for me as a lover of the USA. 


The people who have been elected to run America are not the problem.  They are doing exactly what they have been invited to do by the electorate of the country.  Do you not realise that if the people of America rose up and said as one, that what is being done to this country by those elected to protect it and its value is not acceptable, that they would, of needs, come back into line with the wishes of the American people.


I beg you, my brothers and sisters, to dig back into the why of America, to the founding principles of your great land, and to make them important once again, not just as words in the mind, but as words that speak to the heart.


I believe that America is the last best earthly hope for mankind to speak against evil, and to stand against evil, as it comes against us here in North America and in the world.


If you will not pick back up the torch that has been passed to you, who on earth can we turn to to speak for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?


God Bless America, land that you and I love.

Here was the surprising comment that I received to this from Robert shortly after it was put online.

I fail to see how that passage of Health Insurance for 45 million Americans without health insurance is somehow against the American way. I fail to see how regulating wall street and cracking down on companies like BP is somehow against the American way. I fail to see how all of these things that our Great President has done for us is somehow against the American way. I do think that starting wars on false premises is against the American way. I do think that allowing banks to take advantage of the poor is against the American way. I do think that giving millionaires tax breaks at the expense of our grandchildren in against the American way. All of these things our last not so great President did. So I suppose I am a little shocked to see this lovey dovey column in support of Sarah Palin. Please post this to your right wing blog, not to a catholic website. You don't speak for us.

I did not get any of that out of the article that I wrote.  Interesting response.

Most Christians Cannot Explain their Faith, Says Apologist

Hmmmm!

From Christian Post the other day comes this article about Josh McDowell, a well known and well regarded Protestant Christian teacher and apologist.  At 70 years of age with over 50 years of teaching and preaching, he has been around the block.  Among his many books is Evidence for Joy, which I personally found enlightening many years ago.  In this article his search to find Christians who could speak of their faith in Jesus Christ in a way that could stand up to the scrutiny of non-believers fell sadly off.

As a Catholic Christian, I would like to say that we would have been able to answer his question, for we not only have the bible, but 2000 years of Christian tradition to guide us.  We have more, but in fact we are no better off than our separated brethren on this topic.  The percentage of Catholic Christians who can articulate in a meaningful way their belief in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and His Father and Holy Spirit is small, I believe.

Christ said it.  I believe it. That settles it is true, and sums up the appropriate answer to the question of our faith.  However, it lacks sufficient detail to be able to convince others of the veracity of what we believe in.

Here is the article:

The faith of most Christians, even that of many pastors, will not stand up to intellectual scrutiny, according to renowned apologist Josh McDowell.

This is a concern because pastors’ inability to present biblical truth comprehensibly and relevantly has led to children from Christian families leaving the church, research has shown.


In the United States, the age at which nearly all such children leave church has decreased to 18 years.

Not even the children of many successful ministers are spared.

McDowell made his comments at a recent networking dinner among various men’s ministries organized recently by Men-in-Covenant. MiC is the men’s ministry of Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

He recalled speaking with the pastor of one of the largest U.S. churches, a man known for his expository preaching. Confiding in him, the pastor said their church was losing its youth right after high school graduation.

In his 50 years of ministry, McDowell has asked several thousand pastors and leaders how they could be certain Jesus Christ said “I am the truth” and not one of many truths or a truth.

“Not one person has ever given me an intelligent, biblically-based answer,” said the author of The New Evidence that Demands A Verdict.

During the past six years, he asked hundreds of Christians and leaders why they see themselves as Christians. Again no one gave him an "intelligent" answer.

In the past 17 years, he has asked over 4,000 pastors, leaders and parents why they believe the Bible is true.

A mere six “came close to giving an intelligent answer,” McDowell noted.

“If anything is based upon truth, it’s the Christian faith,” he said. “Christians who do not know why they have faith or believe have a very difficult time expressing themselves to others.
"The saddest thing is people come to me and say, ‘What’s the answer?’"
“I say, ‘There’s no answer… There are hundreds of answers.’"
Most Christians, even some pastors, don’t even know one. On the other hand, the apologist said he could give 50 reasons for his belief that the Bible is true.
Ninety-five percent of Christians gave disappointing responses when asked why they believe Jesus is the Son of God.
Asked why the Bible is true and historically reliable, Christians replied that it was what they had been taught by their church or parents.
A common response that most Christians gave to both questions was that it is “what I believe.”
McDowell responded: “That’s voodoo thinking. Where did we ever get that crazy idea that something is true just because we believe it?
“If that is true, then there will never be heresy. Everybody would be right.”


On one occasion, 13 youth pastors at a large convention were unable to reasonably answer the apologist’s question.

Finally one young person stood up, walked toward him and told him he knew the answer.

The young man promptly held up his Bible and said, “Because I believe it.”

And to McDowell’s dismay, all the youth pastors applauded him.
McDowell said, “Young man, do you know the difference between you, me and the majority of Christians in the world?
“To you, it is true because you believe it. For me, I believe it because it is true.”
Another response the apologist received was: Because I have faith.
He commented, “Where did we ever get the crazy idea that faith makes something true? That’s idiotic. That’s so unbiblical you can call it heresy.
“God doesn’t use faith to create truth. He uses truth through the Holy Spirit to create faith.”

Christians, the apologist stressed, are called to explain their faith when asked. They are set free by the faith in the truth, he expressed, referring to John 8:32.

Yet others say Christianity is true because Jesus changed their lives.

Even this will not stand up to intellectual scrutiny, McDowell argued.


“Lies change lives; cults change lives,” he said.

To make such an appeal is “not the essence of Christianity,” the author emphasized.
McDowell said: “We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our children, we owe it to our neighbors, we owe it to the lost, to tell them not just what we believe but why do we believe it.”

Authentic Christianity

Compare the Two Accounts Below

First from Catholic Online, via LifeSiteNews, is the brief story of Deacon Paul Schenk, born a Reformed Jew, converted to Christianity, ordained an Epicopalian Minister, then converted to Roman Catholicism, within Christianity, and then last year ordained a transitional deacon on the way to this year's ordination into the Catholic priesthood.  Oh, and by the way, this man is a real pro-life hero, having been the co-founder of Operation Rescue, and is also founder and chairman of the National Pro-Life Action Center in Washington, DC.  Busy man!  But not too busy to give all glory and honour to God, and to seek Him in the Catholic Church.

WASHINGTON, DC (LifeSiteNews.com) - Following a journey from Reform Judaism through the Episcopal Church, pro-life hero Deacon Paul Schenck, who was involved in founding Operation Rescue, is soon to be ordained a Catholic priest.

"I consider the most important pro-life battlefield to be religious indifference," he told LifeSiteNews. "I hope that as a Catholic priest, I'll help to awaken Catholics and all people of conscience from the slumber of indifference to authentic concern and effort to defend innocent lives."

Together with his brother Robert, Schenck was raised as a Reform Jew on Grand Island, New York. Both brothers converted to Christianity in 1974, when Paul was 16.

In addition to his involvement in founding Operation Rescue, Schenck has been arrested multiple times for his pro-life activities. He was also the lead plaintiff in the landmark case Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York in 1997.

This case found that the 15-foot "floating buffer zones" indiscriminately applied to all clients and vehicles entering abortion facility property were an unconstitutional violation of freedom of speech. The court ruled that such "zones would restrict the speech of those who simply line the sidewalk or curb in an effort to chant, shout, or hold signs peacefully." The same case found, however, that fixed buffer zones were constitutional.

Schenck is founder and chairman of the National Pro-Life Action Center in Washington, DC.

He became a minister of the Reformed Episcopal Church before converting to Catholicism in 2004 with his family.

"The pro-life movement drew me toward reunion with the Catholic Church," he told. "I saw that coherent moral theology, Christian unity and spiritual authority were essential to success."

He continued: "Most people believe in God, most of them believe God gave them their lives, and most believe taking an innocent life is morally wrong. But most are indifferent towards the victims of abortion."

"If most Catholics, most Christians and most believers of any type overcame their indifference and personally opposed killing innocents by abortion, the struggle for the right to life would be won."

As a transitional deacon in the diocese of Harrisburg, he has acted as director of the Respect Life Office, and conducts pro-life ministry in Annapolis and throughout the country.

"I'm blessed beyond expression by this generous and gratuitous privilege of being ordained a priest, an 'alter Christi' [another Christ]" he told LSN.

He will be ordained on June 12 at 10:00am in St. Joseph's Church at 2935 Kingston Road, York, Pennsylvania 17402.
- - -
LifeSiteNews.com is a non-profit Internet service dedicated to issues of culture, life, and family. It was launched in September 1997. LifeSiteNews Daily News reports and information pages are used by numerous organizations and publications, educators, professionals and political, religious and life and family organization leaders and grassroots people across North America and internationally.

Second, over at Where the Rubber Meets the Road, a well meaning findamentalist commenter to Father Tim Moyle's thoughtful blog, claiming to be a reformed ex-Catholic had this to say after Father Tim returned from a fishing vacation with two of his Protestant minister buddies the other day.

There are many ecumenists in the world who have been deceived by the devil into believing the RC system is actually a true church. Better read Loraine Boettner's book to find out the truth. I wonder where these two Protestant ministers you went fishing with stand. Do they believe the RCC is a true church or do they warn you, with love, about the false church and the false gospel? As they are ministers, one would think they know the truth about the RCC. But in these days of great deception and apostasy on every hand, many ministers you would think otherwise of, are badly deceived themselves and going about deceiving others. Tragic indeed. Who is left contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. (Jude)

Loraine Boettner, who has been deceased for 20 years, and who we hope and pray is living eternally with Jesus, wrote a book in 1962, which he updated in 1966, and purported by many fundamentalist Christians, to be the anti-Catholic bible, called Roman Catholicism.  

Though it is filled with factual errors, consistent with the agenda of its author, to save Catholics from the Whore of Babylon, the Roman Catholic Church, it has remained in circulation.  Regrettably, many former Catholics "have seen the light" and adopted it holus bolus, since it works with their interpretation of sacred scripture. 

However, it does not bear any similiarity in its alleged dissection of the Catholic faith to the truth, and has been refuted by too many Catholic apologists to name.  A short list of appropriate apolagetics resources would include Karl Keating's web site, Catholic Answers, as well as his scholarly Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on "Romanism" by "Bible Christians" written in 1988, John Salza's 2005 book, The Biblical Basis for the Catholic Faith, as well as his web site, Scripture Catholic.  Of course Messrs. Keating and Salza are both cradle Catholics, and so they might be refuted as indoctrinated into the Whore of Babylon by those fundamentalists who like to spew this stuff. 

If so, then maybe a better example of Catholic Apologetics is the 1993 by Scott and Kimberley Hahn entitled Rome Sweet Home, about their journey to the Catholic Church from pretty serious fundamentalism.

Deacon Paul Schenck's journey of faith inspires me to live my faith and to grow in my faith.  The commenter over at WTRHTR, not so much.

Lord, please save me from those who would save me from the Church that you founded here on earth.  Continue to feed me with the Eucharistic meal of your body and blood, and fill me more and more with your Holy Spirit.

Seminary Dedicates Bust of Father McGivney

The Founder of the Knights of Columbus


I often wonder why things happen as they do.


This morning at our prayer gathering to pray the Divine Office, all four of the usual suspects were present.  All of us are members of the Knights of Columbus.  Deacon George Sebok received and shared a vision and a prophecy about allowing God to remove areas of sin in our life that persist.  I took this very personally, because I have been dealing with specifically bothersome tendencies to sin that have plagued me most of my life.


As we have done many mornings after prayer, Deacon George and I went for a walk after prayer.  St. George Parish is right across the street from Springbank Park, a large and beautiful park with miles of walking paths.  Today, we got to where we usually turn to come back to our cars, and decided to walk further.  As we rounded a curve in the roadway, we saw an older cyclist who was on the ground about 100 yards ahead. It was not immediately obvious whether he had fallen or stopped on his own.  As we saw him struggle to get back on his bike, we realised that he had fallen.  He got back on his bike and was heading towards us.  We noticed that he was none too steady, and were kind of blocking his path, as we called out to him to ask if he was okay.  He stopped in front of us, and greeted George.  As it turned out, he was a member of the parish where George serves as a deacon (Holy Family Parish), and also was a member of the Knights of Columbus.


We observed that he was cut around his face, and that he was a bit groggy.  We escorted him to the park washrooms, and then George went to get his car to give him and his bike a ride home.


It was curious that we took that path today, rather than the alternative that we might have taken, and more curious that we chose today to extend our walk at all.


So, when I received the Father Michael J. McGivney Guild Newsletter in the mail today, the connection to the Knights of Columbus, and to the cause for the beatification of Fr. McGivney were of interest to me, and Father McGivney's intercession for those who ask.


In the newsletter, I noted that a bust of Father has been presented and blessed at his old seminary where he graduated in 1877.  Here is an article about it from the online guild news.

Auxiliary Bishop Denis Madden of the archdiocese of Baltimore was the principal celebrant of a Mass associated with dedication of a bust of Father McGivney at Saint Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore.

Earlier in the school year several seminarians at Saint Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore were reflecting on their own journeys to answering God’s call to the priesthood.

The one constant that they found was the prayers and support of the Knights of Columbus.

In recognition of this, the seminarians decided to commission a $6,000 bust of the Venerable Michael McGivney for the seminary.

“Whether from the mountains of West Virginia or the northern reaches of Maine, Knights of Columbus councils, large and small alike, were a major part of our vocations and an indispensable source of support,” said Seminarian Andrew Nelson, who organized the effort.

On April 17, 2010, Knights from supporting councils in 12 states joined the seminarians for the dedication of the bust of Father McGivney (which the seminarians funded). Father McGivney was a member of the seminary’s class of 1877.

The bust was dedicated in honor of the Knights of Columbus for “their unwavering support of the Church, her priests and seminarians.”

Father Thomas Hurst, S.S., president-rector of St. Mary’s welcomed all the guests and stated that this celebration of Father McGivney and his inspiring work was particularly appropriate in the “Year for Priests.”

Auxiliary Bishop Denis Madden of the archdiocese of Baltimore was the principal celebrant of the Mass and was assisted by Father Gabriel O’Donnell, O.P., vice-postulator for Father McGivney’s cause for canonization, and Father Donald Grzymski, OFM Conv., Maryland state chaplain.

Father McGivney, we ask you to intercede on behalf of all Knights of Columbus, but particularly our Brother Knight who we encountered today on our walk, for healing of hearts, minds, bodies and souls, and that we might all grow in holiness.

White Lie - Still a Lie

From the Hit TV Show Lie to Me

Father Euteneuer Does Not Believe President Obama

Human Life International President Writes to President


Father Thomas Euteneuer is a pretty sane individual.  As President of Human Life International, he firmly believes in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.  It is a Catholic belief, though it is a natural law belief as well.


But here, he takes off on the President in a letter that has nothing to do with the sanctity of life directly, but deals with his opinion of the President's competency relative to recent events.  It is interesting reading, and warrants thought.

Dear President Obama,

Every citizen with a modicum of insight into public affairs would say that America is now at a crossroads of decision about what kind of future we want for our nation - and, by extension, for the rest of the world. Whether we like it or not, you are the one who is designated by a vote of the electorate to lead us in that decision-making process. You have asked for the job, and you have proposed yourself as being competent for it. History will judge your Administration on its own merits when your term is complete, but we, the citizens of this country, must judge it for what we see happening before our very eyes. Quite frankly, the picture isn't pretty, and you haven't earned our respect as a leader.

The reason for this, Mr. President, is that we can't believe what you say, and frankly, what you do is utterly unbelievable at times.

The recent Gulf Coast oil spill disaster is indicative of your utter carelessness with the onerous burden of governance. Not only did you dis the families of the 11 workers killed in the disaster, but you also attended fundraisers in CA, a trip to the golf course and several state parties in the White House during the whole time the Governor of Louisiana has been screaming frantically for your attention. How can you expect us to believe that you were actually "in charge" of handling the disaster? In six weeks we have seen hardly a shred of evidence to convince us of that. A leader who says he is in charge of something and then conducts a systematic campaign of blaming, dodging, obfuscating, ignoring and even now prosecuting the others involved - instead of fixing the problem - will hardly go down in the record books as the savior he proposed himself to be when he was elected. You are the Commander-in-Chief who has gone AWOL on a truly national crisis.

On top of all that, you basically blew off a sacred national holiday, Memorial Day, for the sake of a vacation to gangsterland. That slap in the face to our military men and women was not lost on anyone, nor was the narcissistic disregard for American history or anything other than what fits your extreme political agenda. These are appalling traits for the one who holds the highest political office in our land, and only a fawning and dishonest media allows you to get away with this negligence in office.

Speaking of which, what are we to make of your pathetic excuse for the crime of attempting to bribe Congressman Sestak to bow out of the Senate race against Arlen Specter? Do you really think Americans believe the utterly implausible story about offering him a "non-paying" position on some presidential panel? Your Administration's explanation, issued on the afternoon of a holiday weekend, rings hollow, and everyone knows it. "Hollow" is an adequate word to describe your Administration, your political theatre and your rhetoric. Even some of your staunchest ideological supporters admit that it is getting increasingly hard to believe that you mean anything you say.

In the midst of all this domestic incompetence and dishonesty, we have seen no realistic response to North Korean, Iranian or Turkish aggression on the world scene. Foreign politicians know you are a leftist lightweight, and so we can expect more of the same from the rogue nations of the world, further destabilizing the security of our nation and the world. We have, however, seen you and your inept band of political marauders pander to foreign dictators and exploit the Mexican President to abuse us and our national deliberations on serious issues. We have seen your ideological hacks take over whole industries, plunder the private sector, abuse the good will of states and consume sound American institutions as if they were your enemies and with a ferocity that would befit only those who we would call our true national enemies.

Like the Gulf oil spill, your Administration is out of control, and every day is another step closer to disaster. As the oil continues to pollute, kill and damage the external beauty and economy of a whole region, you and your team are doing the same with the trust of the people who built this great country.

We deserve better, Mr. President, and it's time you start doing your job.

Sincerely,

Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer,

President, Human Life International

Beautiful Feet

Beloved Priests Attacked By Demons in Broad Daylight


Sonja Corbitt had an article the other day over at Catholic Online about Catholic priests in Rockford Illinois who pray quietly in front of an abortion mill, and about the powers of hell coming against them for doing it.  Of course, if you don't believe in hell or the devil, then this is just a fictitious story.  I have witnessed the presence of the devil in my own midst, and that experience made me even more certain of his existence and of his malevolence.


But, maybe you have a better excuse for why reasonably sane (??) people behave extremely badly because priests pray quietly for an end to abortion.  


When I have stood and prayed with pro-life people at the abortion mills in Tucson AZ, all I saw in those praying was a love for children, and for those who would be involved in abortion, and a desire for it to end.  But, from time to time, some person would come out of the wood work, and display some unusually strong emotional behaviour that seemed totally out of left field.


One man driving past us on a Saturday morning was so incensed that we were quietly praying the rosary and holding pro-life signs ,that he flipped us the bird with such vehemence as to almost cause him to lose control of his vehicle and cause an accident.  


Another woman stopped her car in front of us one other Saturday, and rushed over to the leader of our little brigade.  There she upbraided our gentle 80 something leader, because it was somehow her fault that some young teenager in England had gotten his girlfriend pregnant and was planning on keeping the baby.


People under the influence of the devil do some really dumb/evil things.


Anyway here is what Sonja Corbitt has to say:

While the demons of hell attempt to knock the feet out from under priests in Rockford IL through attack, they persist in bringing the Gospel even into the satanic abortion trenches.Their revulsion for anything as holy as a Catholic priest is evident in their bizarre window displays, a few of which reportedly include a nun in a coffin, a rubber chicken hanging from a noose, and a picture of Jesus flipping the bird that says, "Even Jesus Hates You."

The priests in Rockford quietly stand vigil in every type of inclement weather with open coats, so that the women seeking an abortion are aware that a priest is present in his flowing, seemingly flaming cassock.

NASHVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - "And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!'" (Rom 10:15).   

According to tradition, typical demonic responses during exorcism include foul language, references to sexual perversion, deceit, and profuse blasphemy. Similarly, prayers for exorcism outside the Northern Illinois Women's Center abortuary in Rockford have provoked just such a reaction from pro-abortion workers and activists within. 

"Not Against Flesh and Blood, But the Rulers of Darkness"

Their revulsion for anything as holy as a Catholic priest is evident in their bizarre window displays, a few of which reportedly include a nun in a coffin, a rubber chicken hanging from a noose, and a picture of Jesus flipping the bird that says, "Even Jesus Hates You."

The beautiful thing about this ongoing battle is that the number of abortions has reportedly been cut by half at this abortuary since the spiritual power of the Jesus was first unleashed through the prayers of the priests who have prayed outside since September of 2008. At least, the abortuary seems to blame them and the special prayers of the Church.

Just this past Friday someone inside the building displayed a sign in reaction to a priest and seminarian praying outside that said "F.... Your Perverted Priests." They have endured personal insults and vandalism of their vehicles. One priest's car was egged, another discovered a hand-written sign that read "I Rape Children" taped to his car. 

Another hand-written sign displayed prominently outside the main entrance to the clinic read "Stop the Perverted Catholic Priests from Raping Young Boys." In convoluted pro-abortion logic, it seems that somehow child abuse is bad, but abortion is good.

The priests in Rockford quietly stand vigil in every type of inclement weather with open coats, so that the women seeking an abortion are aware that a priest is present in his flowing, seemingly flaming cassock. 

Invoking the matchless power of Jesus Christ through the Church, they make sweeping Signs of the Cross and pray that the abortion mill and the whole earth will be cleansed from the evil that surrounds and drives abortion. 

Beautiful Victories 

The Rockford mill hates and attacks the priests outside so viciously because they, and priests and pro-life workers like them all over the country, have saved countless lives and souls. 

When they first began their vigils, it was reported that the pro-life sidewalk counselors in Rockford noticed an immediate, dramatic decline in the numbers of mothers who go there for abortions, a distinct rise in the numbers of mothers who choose life outside the mill, and the correlation of these changes with the beginning of the displays of blasphemy from inside. 

The response at this abortuary has been particularly virulent, but priests are praying outside them all over the country through Priests for Life, in which priests and parishes are paired with specific abortuaries. 

It is to St. John Vianney that our beloved priests are entrusted, and he said it so eloquently: "Were we to fully realize what a priest is on earth, we would die: not of fright, but of love. It is he who opens the door: he is the steward of the good Lord; the administrator of his goods. Leave a parish for twenty years without a priest, and they will end by worshiping the beasts there. The priest is not a priest for himself, he is a priest for you." 

Because they are priests, they take the good news, uniquely, even into these demonic abortion trenches. As the Year for Priests draws to a close, may we bathe their dusty, tired, beautiful feet with the anointing of our prayers. Amen.

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Sonja Corbitt is a Catholic speaker, Scripture teacher and study author, and a contributing writer for Catholic Online. She is available to speak on the New Feminism, current events and your preferred theme. Visit her at www.pursuingthesummit.com for information and sample videos, or www.pursuingthesummit.blogspot.com.

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