Benedict XVI to return to Vatican on May 1 : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

• Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI will return to the Vatican on Wednesday, May 1, reports Andrea Tornielli of La Stampa.
• The retired Pontiff has been staying at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo since his resignation took effect on February 28. He had announced before stepping down that he planned to live in a remodeled monastery on the Vatican grounds. The renovations of that building are now complete.

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Benedict XVI to return to Vatican on May 1 : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions For May

Vatican City, 29 April 2013 (VIS) – The Pope's general prayer intention for May is: "That administrators of justice may act always with integrity and right conscience."

His mission intention is: “That seminaries, especially those of mission Churches, may form pastors after the Heart of Christ, fully dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel.”

You can find more information at: www.visnews.org

The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

We hate to say ‘we told you so’: same-sex marriage & polygamy | LifeSiteNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeSiteNews.com:

• In a scene from Jurassic Park, Ian Malcolm, the mathematician skeptical about whether the park is a good idea, watches the T-Rex burst out of its enclosure and says, “I hate being right all the time.”
• Princeton Professor Robert George and other defenders of traditional marriage understand these sentiments. For years, they’ve warned that redefining marriage beyond the union of one man and one woman wouldn’t—indeed couldn’t—stop with same-sex unions. The same reasoning that extends marriage to same-sex couples would easily be applied to polygamy and polyamory also.
• The standard response to these concerns was scoffing and accusations of fear-mongering.
• Well, the fences are down and the beast is loose.

Read more by clicking below:

We hate to say ‘we told you so’: same-sex marriage & polygamy | LifeSiteNews.com

Judge rules against SNAP, Call to Action in upholding Missouri law against disturbing worship : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

• A federal district court judge has upheld the constitutionality of the Missouri House of Worship Protection Act, a 2012 law declaring that “a person commits the crime of disrupting a house of worship if such person intentionally and unreasonably disturbs, interrupts, or disquiets any house of worship by using profane discourse, rude or indecent behavior, or making noise either within the house of worship or so near it as to disturb the order and solemnity of the worship services.”

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Judge rules against SNAP, Call to Action in upholding Missouri law against disturbing worship : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Syrian prelates remain in captivity; news of release was inaccurate : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

• Contrary to early reports, two Orthodox bishops who were kidnapped in Syria on April 22 have not been released.
• "Archbishop Ibrahim and Metropolitan Boulos al-Yaziji until last night were still in the hands of their kidnappers. Reports of their release yesterday afternoon were false," Melkite Catholic Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo told the AsiaNews service.

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Syrian prelates remain in captivity; news of release was inaccurate : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Just a thought from me:

Heaven and earth...all who are in them, and all they contain... are God's creation. To have hatred for one person, is to hate all of God's creation.

72 Members of Congress Demand Media Coverage of Gosnell Trial | LifeNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:

• Some 72 members of Congress have signed on to a letter demanding that the mainstream media provide coverage of the murder trial of abortion practitioner Kermit Gosnell.
• Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Steve Scalise (R-LA) were joined by 70 of their House colleagues late Wednesday demanding national broadcast news channels ABC, NBC, and CBS stop blacking out coverage on high-profile abortion controversies.
• Their letters specifically reference two instances where the media has covered up the story of Planned Parenthood lobbying in support of infanticide in the Florida State Legislature and in the ongoing murder trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia. By many accounts, the Gosnell murder trial has become one of the most notorious cases of patient abuse of mothers and children in our nation’s history, they said.

Read more by clicking below:
72 Members of Congress Demand Media Coverage of Gosnell Trial | LifeNews.com

Thanks!

I would just like to say thank you to all of you have sent me a donation to help me pay my $373.00 power bill.

I only have $150.00 to go to be able to pay it by April 24. 

Thanks for helping me not only have lights, but also it lets me have water, too, as I am on a well.

Thank you all, and may God Bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!

Oh, and I almost forgot. I have created a small "banner" to show support for our Holy Father, Pope Francis. If you would like, you may have a copy of it for your own blogs, web pages, etc., by right clicking on it, click Save As, or Save Image (depending on your browser. Right click the image below, it is 400x80.

Pope Francis Expresses Profound Grief For Attack In Boston

Vatican City, 16 April 2013 (VIS) – Pope Francis, through Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., has sent a telegram to Cardinal Sean O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap, archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts, USA in response to the attack that took place yesterday afternoon in that city during its annual marathon causing three deaths and leaving over 100 wounded.

“Deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of violence perpetrated last evening in Boston, His Holiness Pope Francis wishes me to assure you of his sympathy and closeness in prayer. In the aftermath of this senseless tragedy, His Holiness invokes God’s peace upon the dead, his consolation upon the suffering, and his strength upon all those engaged in the continuing work of relief and response. At this time of mourning the Holy Father prays that all Bostonians will be united in a resolve not to be overcome by evil, but to combat evil with good (cf. Rom 12:21), working together to build an ever more just, free and secure society for generations yet to come.”

You can find more information at: www.visnews.org

The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

A Need

Once again, I must humbly ask for your prayers and assistance if possible. I have a power bill  due by April 24, that is over $370.00. I don't know where the money is going to come from. 

Last month, my power bill was over $417.00, and my landlady graciously allowed me to pay only one half of last months rent so that I would be able to pay THAT power bill. The other half of the rent will be paid over the next 2 months (that is this month and May).

So, I would greatly appreciate your prayers. I had my power disconnected almost one year ago, and I would like to avoid that scenario again, if at all possible. Not having lights is one thing, but I am also on a well, and would have no water without electricity. 

The good thing is, the weather has been very warm, and so I don't have to be concerned about heat right now, which is good because the home I rent has electric heat.

Anyway, please forgive my request, but I do especially covet your prayers, and would appreciate any assistance (even if it's just $1) or suggestions you might be able to offer.

Thank you, and may God Bless you all!

UPDATE: Thank you to those who have sent me donations through my PayPal donate button. Those donations have got the amount I need now to just under $300.00. Thank you again, and may God bless you all!

New Guest Post On "Saints of the Faith" Blog

I am very fortunate to be able to tell you that we have a very good guest on our "Saints of the Faith".

The post is "Blessed John Henry Newman, A Great Teacher and Catechist" by Father Juan R. Vélez. Be sure to give it a read and leave a comment if you'd like.

Father Juan R. Vélez, is the author of "Passion for Truth, The Life of John Henry Newman". Father Vélez is a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei who resides in San Francisco. He holds a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the University of Navarre. His doctoral thesis was on John Henry Newman’s Eschatology.

His interest in the life and works of Cardinal Newman began with his doctoral studies under Prof. José Morales, author of John Henry Newman (1801-1890).

Fr. Vélez has a medical degree, also from the University of Navarre, and was previously board certified in internal medicine.

College professor slams Pope Francis for blessing, embracing disabled man - Wilmington Conservative | Examiner.com

The following excerpts are from examiner.com:

• Professor calls on Pope to stop "blessing people with disabilities..."
• A university professor has openly launched a verbal attack on Pope Francis for his blessing and embracing a disabled man in St. Peter's Square, as reported by the college-centric news portal Campus Reform via Google News on April 8, 2013. [Aren't kids lucky to have such a professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago..now turning sarcasm off]

Read more by clicking below:
College professor slams Pope Francis for blessing, embracing disabled man - Wilmington Conservative | Examiner.com

Personal Prayer Need

I am in need of your prayers for a personal intention at this time. Thank you, and may God Bless you!

-- Steve

Army Reserve: Catholics And Evangelical Christians Examples of Religious "Extremism"

This country has gone way beyond frightening. Yes, the term frightening wouldn't even come close to touching it.

For starters, let's look at the press release from the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA:

AMS Calls on U.S. Defense Department to Review Army Reserve Training Material for Anti-Religious Content

Concern raised by brief citing Catholicism as example of “religious extremism”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) issued the following statement today on the mischaracterization of “Catholicism” as an example of “religious extremism” on slide #24 of this U.S. Army Reserve training brief:

Statement

The Archdiocese for the Military Services and Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty recently became aware of a U.S. Army Reserve Equal Opportunity training brief that expressly listed “Catholicism,” “Evangelical Christianity” and other religious groups as examples of “religious extremism” alongside groups such as “Al Qaeda”, “Hamas” and the “KKK.”

The Archdiocese is astounded that Catholics were listed alongside groups that are, by their very mission and nature, violent and extremist.

According to an investigation and reply from the Army Chief of Chaplains office, the training in question appears to have been an isolated incident not condoned by the Department of the Army. The Archdiocese and the Chaplain Alliance explained that the Army can and should take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Archdiocese calls upon the Department of Defense to review these materials and to ensure that tax-payer funds are never again used to present blatantly anti-religious material to the men and women in uniform.

So, the Army Reserve has determined that Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and other mainstream religious groups are “extremists”, all a definition they got, according to The Daily Mail, from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

I don't know about you, but it seems to me that the extremism may lie entirely within the Army and the SPLC.

Speaking of The Daily Mail, Lisa Graas over at Catholic Bandita has an excellent post on this topic, and she also has a link to The Daily Mail that shows some images of the slides in question from the Army reserve training. Her post is called : “Army Training Slideshow Includes Catholics, Evangelicals, Some Jews as ‘Religious Extremism’”. Go over there and give it a read, as well as an excellent post also from Father Z called “Obama Admin in Army Reserve brief lumps Catholicism in with Al Qaeda, Hamas, KKK”.

As one "extremist" to another, I think the SPLC and the Army have zero credibility in their assertions.

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