There is a creeping anti-Catholicism is changing the landscape of our society. Just this weekend an editorial in the local paper suggested that the Catholic school system was resisting the inevitable end of separate schools and that we must stop insisting that Catholic values, practices and religion classes be upheld in our schools. Imagine that - students in a Catholic school attending religion classes!
My own feeling when people suggest we should "get with the times" and get rid of all things Catholic is that if the day comes when the only thing that differentiates us is the cross on the wall or the Saint’s name over the door, the public outcry should be loudest, not when we practice our faith in our schools,
Oh sure, people throw that old “publicly funded” argument to suggest we should abandon all Catholic practices. Tax money goes to support you - therefore you must accept societal norms, they suggest. I say that they should scream the loudest, we should scream the loudest if we ever do – why then would we need two very separate school systems if one wasn’t decidedly, unabashedly and sometimes uncomfortably Catholic?
That’s worth paying for.
Showing posts with label My Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Church. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2014
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Just One Side of Your Mouth at a Time, Please
If it's OK with everyone, let's just talk out of one side of our mouths for a moment.
Gay-Straight Alliances in Ontario schools
Far from being the champions, the homosexual agenda should be actively objecting to differentiation based on sexual orientation. Separate boys and girls entrances to grade schools are quaint reminders of a time long past. Now we divide and define by hetero or homosexual attraction? The good work of the homosexual lobby of the last thirty odd years in ending discrimination will have been for naught when this happens.
The Most Loving Place for one who Suffers from Same Sex Attraction is the Catholic Church
...and anyone who suggests otherwise isn't paying attention, and yes, I said suffers. It is not an easy life. We hold to God's truth that we should love one another, and that homosexual orientation, in and of itself, is not a sin. Neither is temptation a sin; however acting on it is another story. We believe that God is the final judge, and we love each other in spite of our failings and differences, and because God commands us to. Let me clarify - we are to love one another. We frequently fail. We should never stop trying.
Critics Claim Catholic Bishops are "Out of Step" with Society
Of course they are, thank God. Pray that all Catholics are. We must carefully consider each step, not blindly march to the current whim and changing fancy of modern society. We are called to be in the world, not of the world. Truth is, as the Bishops prayerfully consider our world and God's will, I suggest they are actually closer to feeling the true pulse of the people than are politicians.
The End of Catholic Schools in Ontario? Not Yet
It is suggested that Separate Schools should no longer be funded by the taxpayer because Catholics refuse to act against our tradtion and beliefs. In fact the exact opposite is true. A Catholic school system that goes against it's own beliefs and bends to public will is one that should have it's funding removed, it's union disbanded, it's administration dismissed and the crosses removed from the classroom. When there is no longer any discernible difference between a Catholic school and a public school we're just going through the motions, aren't we?
A Public Accountability to be Catholic
An educated electorate of all faiths and beliefs should scream bloody murder, clamour, protest and object to funding a Catholic school system that isn't different, to bankrolling one that doesn't put the Catholic faith first, to footing the bill for a Catholic systtem that doesn't obey the local ordinary (the Bishop) or one that doesn't offer a religious objection to the practices of the secular world.
Pray for the day, but don't hold your breath.
Gay-Straight Alliances in Ontario schools
Far from being the champions, the homosexual agenda should be actively objecting to differentiation based on sexual orientation. Separate boys and girls entrances to grade schools are quaint reminders of a time long past. Now we divide and define by hetero or homosexual attraction? The good work of the homosexual lobby of the last thirty odd years in ending discrimination will have been for naught when this happens.
The Most Loving Place for one who Suffers from Same Sex Attraction is the Catholic Church
...and anyone who suggests otherwise isn't paying attention, and yes, I said suffers. It is not an easy life. We hold to God's truth that we should love one another, and that homosexual orientation, in and of itself, is not a sin. Neither is temptation a sin; however acting on it is another story. We believe that God is the final judge, and we love each other in spite of our failings and differences, and because God commands us to. Let me clarify - we are to love one another. We frequently fail. We should never stop trying.
Critics Claim Catholic Bishops are "Out of Step" with Society
Of course they are, thank God. Pray that all Catholics are. We must carefully consider each step, not blindly march to the current whim and changing fancy of modern society. We are called to be in the world, not of the world. Truth is, as the Bishops prayerfully consider our world and God's will, I suggest they are actually closer to feeling the true pulse of the people than are politicians.
The End of Catholic Schools in Ontario? Not Yet
It is suggested that Separate Schools should no longer be funded by the taxpayer because Catholics refuse to act against our tradtion and beliefs. In fact the exact opposite is true. A Catholic school system that goes against it's own beliefs and bends to public will is one that should have it's funding removed, it's union disbanded, it's administration dismissed and the crosses removed from the classroom. When there is no longer any discernible difference between a Catholic school and a public school we're just going through the motions, aren't we?
A Public Accountability to be Catholic
An educated electorate of all faiths and beliefs should scream bloody murder, clamour, protest and object to funding a Catholic school system that isn't different, to bankrolling one that doesn't put the Catholic faith first, to footing the bill for a Catholic systtem that doesn't obey the local ordinary (the Bishop) or one that doesn't offer a religious objection to the practices of the secular world.
Pray for the day, but don't hold your breath.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Catholic. Charity
Catholics should give to Catholic charities. I guess I could have hidden that somewhere between the lines, but it needs to be said, aloud, outside of the lines.
The faith is being watered down by well-meaning Catholics, teachers in the Catholic system, Catholic affinity groups and Catholic community leaders who raise and give money to causes that are quite admirable and quite secular, and there are many of them. But unless they are Catholic charities, or charities recommended by the local ordinary (our Bishop), we have no guarantee that every penny will be spent in support of Catholic values. What guarantee have we that money given to a secular charity in support of the sick will not someday be directed towards euthanasia? That giving to a charitable collective that supports many community charities will not include one that counsels abortion?
There are plenty of very generous people in the secular world with no allegiance except to their own conscience who support all sorts of worthy causes. God bless them.
There are precious few dollars to support Catholic causes in support of the poor, the sick, the elderly, the unborn, the sorrowful woman who has aborted her child, the crumbling historic church, the faithful. We must not allow charity inspired at the foot of the cross to be exploited by the secular world for it's own cause to the glory of it's own name.
Catholic dollars should be given, exclusively if possible, to support charity done in Christ's name in accordance with our faith, in accordance with what we believe.
The faith is being watered down by well-meaning Catholics, teachers in the Catholic system, Catholic affinity groups and Catholic community leaders who raise and give money to causes that are quite admirable and quite secular, and there are many of them. But unless they are Catholic charities, or charities recommended by the local ordinary (our Bishop), we have no guarantee that every penny will be spent in support of Catholic values. What guarantee have we that money given to a secular charity in support of the sick will not someday be directed towards euthanasia? That giving to a charitable collective that supports many community charities will not include one that counsels abortion?
There are plenty of very generous people in the secular world with no allegiance except to their own conscience who support all sorts of worthy causes. God bless them.
There are precious few dollars to support Catholic causes in support of the poor, the sick, the elderly, the unborn, the sorrowful woman who has aborted her child, the crumbling historic church, the faithful. We must not allow charity inspired at the foot of the cross to be exploited by the secular world for it's own cause to the glory of it's own name.
Catholic dollars should be given, exclusively if possible, to support charity done in Christ's name in accordance with our faith, in accordance with what we believe.
Friday, December 16, 2011
All My Tomorrows
However many they may be, even if none, let's get busy thinking about our tomorrows. The past, once we have atoned for it, should remain in the past. It serves a wonderful purpose; it is the anchor in the question "where do I go from here?" Just remember that in order to sail, you must first hoist the anchor.
It's the beauty of the Mass, and why it is far more meaningful than any new-age bible revival worship service can ever be. The Mass has the unique quality of reliving a moment in history in real time. Through the celebration of the eucharist, the real body and blood of Christ, the sacrifice is not just a point on a calendar but a living event, happening again right in front of us. It is up to each of us to enter into it, or not.
When the readings and the Gospel and the psalm are interpreted by the homilist, we quite correctly ask ourselves, "what does this mean to me?" and "what am I going to do differently because of it?" These are the two central questions asked and answered by Jesus' disciples every time he taught a lesson through the parable.
Entering into the mystery daily or at the very least, at weekly Mass allows us to ask and answer those questions anew, to look forward to all our tomorrows, no matter how many or few they may be.
What does it Christ saying to me? What will the Holy Spirit guide me to do differently? What does tomorrow bring?
It's the beauty of the Mass, and why it is far more meaningful than any new-age bible revival worship service can ever be. The Mass has the unique quality of reliving a moment in history in real time. Through the celebration of the eucharist, the real body and blood of Christ, the sacrifice is not just a point on a calendar but a living event, happening again right in front of us. It is up to each of us to enter into it, or not.
When the readings and the Gospel and the psalm are interpreted by the homilist, we quite correctly ask ourselves, "what does this mean to me?" and "what am I going to do differently because of it?" These are the two central questions asked and answered by Jesus' disciples every time he taught a lesson through the parable.
Entering into the mystery daily or at the very least, at weekly Mass allows us to ask and answer those questions anew, to look forward to all our tomorrows, no matter how many or few they may be.
What does it Christ saying to me? What will the Holy Spirit guide me to do differently? What does tomorrow bring?
Thursday, November 24, 2011
And That's How You Tell the Goats From the Sheep
Matthew 25:31-46
This past Christ the King weekend we heard in the Gospel that Christ will come again, and at that time separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep on his right hand, a very good place to be, will have eternal life in the kingdom. The goats on his left, which is where you don't want to be, will spend eternity in hell.
Who are the sheep and who the goats? Both saw the poor, the hungry, the lonely, the needy but only one acknowledged them and did something about it - the sheep. The others, the goats, looked the other way and went about their business without concern for their welfare. Christ says it quite bluntly - when we turn our backs on the most in need, we have, in effect turned our backs on him.
Sometimes even the very best of us can inadvertently join the goats. I tell the story of the time my mother stormed away from singing in the choir at St. Thomas for about a year because of some slight or another. Closer to home, I've had my own petulant reactions when I've felt unappreciated or insulted, and have thought about quitting this ministry or that one, rather than tolerate this affront to my dignity any longer.
The trouble is when we walk away from helping others because our pride is wounded, or worse when we threaten to quit our church volunteer position as a bargaining tool or to get what we want, we turn our backs on those who need us most. We mingle with the goats. It's the poor who suffer for our hubris.
Well and good, we've probably all been there at one time or another, but if Christ comes again at that very moment, who do you want to be standing with? The sheep or the goats?
Me neither.
This past Christ the King weekend we heard in the Gospel that Christ will come again, and at that time separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep on his right hand, a very good place to be, will have eternal life in the kingdom. The goats on his left, which is where you don't want to be, will spend eternity in hell.
Who are the sheep and who the goats? Both saw the poor, the hungry, the lonely, the needy but only one acknowledged them and did something about it - the sheep. The others, the goats, looked the other way and went about their business without concern for their welfare. Christ says it quite bluntly - when we turn our backs on the most in need, we have, in effect turned our backs on him.
Sometimes even the very best of us can inadvertently join the goats. I tell the story of the time my mother stormed away from singing in the choir at St. Thomas for about a year because of some slight or another. Closer to home, I've had my own petulant reactions when I've felt unappreciated or insulted, and have thought about quitting this ministry or that one, rather than tolerate this affront to my dignity any longer.
The trouble is when we walk away from helping others because our pride is wounded, or worse when we threaten to quit our church volunteer position as a bargaining tool or to get what we want, we turn our backs on those who need us most. We mingle with the goats. It's the poor who suffer for our hubris.
Well and good, we've probably all been there at one time or another, but if Christ comes again at that very moment, who do you want to be standing with? The sheep or the goats?
Me neither.
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