Working in Elementary Religious Education affords one the best of the religious cartoon ...and not so good. Luckily, it is hard to screw up the Story of St. Patrick, I don't know if it is because the Irish would uprise and destroy anyone who did, or people might notice the silliness of that between their green beer and "I'm not Irish, but kiss me anyway" shirts. Either way, I have taken to reading a book called "Celtic Spirituality" this Lent, which includes many of the writings of St. Patrick himself, more on that in a few days, but St. Paul said it is better to start with milk before meat, so here ya go...
Unfortunately, our friends over at VeggieTales suffer from Catholic Amnesia, and fail to mention he went, not just to "church", but he went to Catholic Church. It is important that we not lose sight of the meaning of this holiday! More to come later this week!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A "Trojan" Horse?
Sandra Fluke apparently decided to forego the Lenten obligation of going to Confession for serious sins, recommended by the Catholic Church, in order to air her serious sins and instead to go to "Confession" at the Senate hearing:
Now there are so many ridiculous claims brought in this testimony before the U.S. Senate, nevermind that two Americans died in Afghanistan today. As I can not go into the political peculiarities of this testimony (due to the presumption of separation of Church and State the I.R.S. works under), I do think it is quite appropriate to speak of the theological and moral implications that she proposes as a student at a Catholic University, namely Georgetown (which I suppose is more specifically a "University in the Jesuit Tradition", whatever that means). Is this, perhaps, the problem of having the focus of some of American's Catholic Universities over-focusing on "pastoral care" for all faiths, instead of instructing and catechizing on the one True Catholic Faith by which we come to meet the only living and True God?
To take a look at the Georgetown University website one notices that "The ideals and principles that have characterized Jesuit education for over 450 years are central to Georgetown’s mission and character." And yet, is not one of the hallmarks of St. Ignatius' spirituality an unwavering devotion to the Pope, and our need to "sentire cum ecclesiae"? Yet, Ms. Fluke, who has presented her sinfulness for the world to see has now demonstrated the Secular Humanistic philosophy, which is underlying her worldview and approach to contraception.
Rush Limbaugh, conservative political commentator, attacked her illogical approach to her position, and,had some very harsh words:
Regardless of this conclusion, what is not understood by this "reproductive rights activist" is that she is promoting her so-called "rights" against those whose right to life are being taken away. The Church herself points out in the Catechism #2273 that every child has the right to:
While Ms. Fluke herself notes that non-contraceptive uses of hormones (hormones which incidentally have demonstrably significant carcinogenic effects on women) to regulate her friend's poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. This may, in fact, be a medical need! Yet, Ms. Fluke seems to be equating her wanton desire for pre-marital sexual activity with her friend's medical need.
Then she goes on to say that she expected this Catholic School would live up to its Jesuit creed of "Cura Personalis." This completely neglects that fact that the Catholic Faith demonstrably has not changed its position on contraception SINCE THE 1st CENTURY!!! The "whole person" includes the state of one's soul in mortal sin, which theoretically is still taught at Georgetown, as well! What is unfortuante is that she thinks that this is being asked of her "because she is a woman?" What she misunderstands is that at a Catholic University the moral truths established by the only Living and True God ought to be upheld and promoted, regardless of gender or sexual orientation or race. Her explicit perspective is that she wanted a "prestigious school" but yet she did not consider that her integrity has already been compromised by not accepting and respecting the fact that she had entered a Catholic University where a certain belief and practice is, at least theoretically, promoted and upheld. Sure anyone can attend a Private Catholic University, but they should not presume that their opposing beliefs will be cherished and accomodated. And yet, could this be what the state of many Catholic Universities have become, mere "prestigious universities?"
If one checks the Georgetown University's website then we find a very interesting note on their "Catholic and Jesuit Identity" page. They are clear that: "Today, Georgetown celebrates this long tradition by providing pastoral care and opportunities for worship, reflection and service to members of the community across a diversity of faiths. On any given week, more than 50 different religious services are taking place across our campuses, including Catholic Masses, Muslim prayer services, Orthodox Christian services, Jewish Shabbat services, and Protestant services and Bible studies." Sadly, this is under the subheading of "commitment to faith." Now, I agree "faith", as such, should be respected that man may seek God, but should not a Catholic University be true to its own identity and mission, and not promote and equate the viability and veracity of other religious traditions in union with their own? Is this not scandal against the very prayer of Jesus to God the Father, "Holy Father, keep them in your name ...that they may be one, even as you and I are one (Jn 17:11)."
Ms. Fluke, in fact, demonstrates the danger of syncretism that would equate all faiths as equal, precisely because human beings believe in them. And thus every human belief and practice are precisely equal. Her sexual activity is not the same or even close to being as central to the worship of Christ on a Catholic University Campus, or, at least, shouldn't be. Yet, by the continuing accomodation of teachings inconsistent with the Catholic Faith, this woman expects that she should have her contraceptives paid for, as well as all women's birth control.
In my humble opinion, this is yet another demonstration of the world's maxim: Misery loves company. The miserable state of human sin can not allow others to call them to something greater, to call them to find Truth and the only Living and True God! In Christ's Mercy, they see nothing but restrcition and regulation and neglect the Living God who calls to them to be healed of our fallen flesh, which often desires sin merely for slefish pleasure's sake - whether by sexual acts or otherwise. We Catholics can not sit back and let such things pass by us as just yet another piece of news! Our Faith is under attack and it is these small steps, as Ms. Fluke does, of appealing to the "empowerment of man" to commit sins and to do so without any responsibility or guilt that our ability to practice our Catholic Faith is slowly being eroded. If Jesus has been resurrected, then we have not believe in vain and our lives must learn all that the Apostles taught - including the virtue of chastity.
Now there are so many ridiculous claims brought in this testimony before the U.S. Senate, nevermind that two Americans died in Afghanistan today. As I can not go into the political peculiarities of this testimony (due to the presumption of separation of Church and State the I.R.S. works under), I do think it is quite appropriate to speak of the theological and moral implications that she proposes as a student at a Catholic University, namely Georgetown (which I suppose is more specifically a "University in the Jesuit Tradition", whatever that means). Is this, perhaps, the problem of having the focus of some of American's Catholic Universities over-focusing on "pastoral care" for all faiths, instead of instructing and catechizing on the one True Catholic Faith by which we come to meet the only living and True God?
To take a look at the Georgetown University website one notices that "The ideals and principles that have characterized Jesuit education for over 450 years are central to Georgetown’s mission and character." And yet, is not one of the hallmarks of St. Ignatius' spirituality an unwavering devotion to the Pope, and our need to "sentire cum ecclesiae"? Yet, Ms. Fluke, who has presented her sinfulness for the world to see has now demonstrated the Secular Humanistic philosophy, which is underlying her worldview and approach to contraception.
Rush Limbaugh, conservative political commentator, attacked her illogical approach to her position, and,had some very harsh words:
“What does it say about the college co-ed Sandra Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex, what does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex. She’s having so much sex she can’t afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex. What does that make us? We’re the pimps.”
Regardless of this conclusion, what is not understood by this "reproductive rights activist" is that she is promoting her so-called "rights" against those whose right to life are being taken away. The Church herself points out in the Catechism #2273 that every child has the right to:
The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation:"
"The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death."
"The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined. . . . As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights.
While Ms. Fluke herself notes that non-contraceptive uses of hormones (hormones which incidentally have demonstrably significant carcinogenic effects on women) to regulate her friend's poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. This may, in fact, be a medical need! Yet, Ms. Fluke seems to be equating her wanton desire for pre-marital sexual activity with her friend's medical need.
Then she goes on to say that she expected this Catholic School would live up to its Jesuit creed of "Cura Personalis." This completely neglects that fact that the Catholic Faith demonstrably has not changed its position on contraception SINCE THE 1st CENTURY!!! The "whole person" includes the state of one's soul in mortal sin, which theoretically is still taught at Georgetown, as well! What is unfortuante is that she thinks that this is being asked of her "because she is a woman?" What she misunderstands is that at a Catholic University the moral truths established by the only Living and True God ought to be upheld and promoted, regardless of gender or sexual orientation or race. Her explicit perspective is that she wanted a "prestigious school" but yet she did not consider that her integrity has already been compromised by not accepting and respecting the fact that she had entered a Catholic University where a certain belief and practice is, at least theoretically, promoted and upheld. Sure anyone can attend a Private Catholic University, but they should not presume that their opposing beliefs will be cherished and accomodated. And yet, could this be what the state of many Catholic Universities have become, mere "prestigious universities?"
If one checks the Georgetown University's website then we find a very interesting note on their "Catholic and Jesuit Identity" page. They are clear that: "Today, Georgetown celebrates this long tradition by providing pastoral care and opportunities for worship, reflection and service to members of the community across a diversity of faiths. On any given week, more than 50 different religious services are taking place across our campuses, including Catholic Masses, Muslim prayer services, Orthodox Christian services, Jewish Shabbat services, and Protestant services and Bible studies." Sadly, this is under the subheading of "commitment to faith." Now, I agree "faith", as such, should be respected that man may seek God, but should not a Catholic University be true to its own identity and mission, and not promote and equate the viability and veracity of other religious traditions in union with their own? Is this not scandal against the very prayer of Jesus to God the Father, "Holy Father, keep them in your name ...that they may be one, even as you and I are one (Jn 17:11)."
Ms. Fluke, in fact, demonstrates the danger of syncretism that would equate all faiths as equal, precisely because human beings believe in them. And thus every human belief and practice are precisely equal. Her sexual activity is not the same or even close to being as central to the worship of Christ on a Catholic University Campus, or, at least, shouldn't be. Yet, by the continuing accomodation of teachings inconsistent with the Catholic Faith, this woman expects that she should have her contraceptives paid for, as well as all women's birth control.
In my humble opinion, this is yet another demonstration of the world's maxim: Misery loves company. The miserable state of human sin can not allow others to call them to something greater, to call them to find Truth and the only Living and True God! In Christ's Mercy, they see nothing but restrcition and regulation and neglect the Living God who calls to them to be healed of our fallen flesh, which often desires sin merely for slefish pleasure's sake - whether by sexual acts or otherwise. We Catholics can not sit back and let such things pass by us as just yet another piece of news! Our Faith is under attack and it is these small steps, as Ms. Fluke does, of appealing to the "empowerment of man" to commit sins and to do so without any responsibility or guilt that our ability to practice our Catholic Faith is slowly being eroded. If Jesus has been resurrected, then we have not believe in vain and our lives must learn all that the Apostles taught - including the virtue of chastity.
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