St James tell us, "Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (4:4). As I listen to the endless stream of mindless blather on television, I am reminded of this powerful verse. People talk about Christmas in earthly terms. They mention Santa Claus, gifts, and trees. They want a new IPad, car, or jewelry. Their passions lie with the world. The celebration of the birth of the greatest man who ever lived does not even register with many of them. It is numbing and I am saddened. Being a lover of the world means that you want to stay in this world. You are worried about leaving the things in this world behind. I am not suggesting that we should not enjoy our time on earth. In fact, we should spend it with a higher purpose. But remember that it is temporary and the greater prize is to come in the next life. The anticipation of spending eternal life with our Lord is so exciting. It is this feeling that builds excitement in me during the time of Advent. We have been patient. We have prepared ourselves the last four weeks specifically. We are ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We walk the journey with Joseph and Mary. We feel their joy when Jesus arrives. We join the other visitors to the manger to worship the King of Kings. I want to close this post with a thank you to all that come to this site. I hope that I have remained true to God's purpose. I ask that you continue to pray for me and this ministry. I want to bring people closer to our God. I want people to develop a deeper relationship with God. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Pope Benedict XVI said the Catholic Church must reflect on what is wrong with its message and Christian life in general that allowed for the widespread sexual abuse of children by priests. While accepting responsiblity for the scandal, Benedict said the abuse must also be seen in the broader social context, in which child pornography and sexual tourism are rampant, and where as recently as the 1970s pedophilia wasn't considered the absolute evil that it is today. The pope made the remarks to Vatican cardinals and bishops gathered for his traditional Christmas speech, an eagerly anticipated address that Benedict uses to press key issues he wants the church hierarchy to reflect on. While stressing that most priests do good, honest work, Benedict said revelations of abuse in 2010 reached "an unimaginable dimension" that required the church to accept the "humiliation" as a call for renewal. "We must ask ourselves what we can do to repair as much as possible the injustices that occurred," Benedict said. "We must ask ourselves what was wrong in our message, in our entire way of configuring the Christian being, that allowed such a thing to occur. We must find a new determination in faith and goodness." Pope Benedict has previously acknowledged that the scandal was the result of sin within the church and that the church as a result must repent for it and make amends with victims. His most recent comments suggested that there might be some intrinsic problem with the way Christianity and its message was understood in the modern world that allowed for the abuse to fester unchecked. So what does this say to the Catholics in the pew? It appears to be a call to action from the Pope. We must become more concerned and active in expressing the Catholic view on the world.

Are you a slave of Christ Jesus? In the readings for this Sunday's Mass, St. Paul proclaims his allegiance to Christ. He declares that he is indeed a slave to Christ Jesus. The word slave in American conjures up different images than Paul is describing here but the essence is the same. Essentially, it was an honor and privilege according to the Old Testament, to be bound as a slave to God. Paul is bound to Jesus in all aspects. He is willing to do anything for Jesus. In fact, remembering Paul's conversion story, it makes this statement even more amazing. Saul, as Paul was known before his conversion on the road to Damascus, was indeed a Christ-hater. He despised the growing movement led by Christ. He tortured and persecuted people who were followers of Christ. But as we all know, his conversion experience turned everything around. St. Paul became, arguable, the most fervent disciple of Christ Jesus. Paul certainly devoted his life to spreading the message of Christ. So I go back to my first question. Are you a slave of Christ Jesus? Do you live every waking moment to bring Christ to the unchurched? Do you share the salvation message with everyone you come in contact with throughout the day? Or perhaps you define becoming a slave to Christ Jesus in another way. It is a deep and complex issue. Spend some time on it today. It is important to make a decision on this important question. Are you ready to make the kind of commitment that St. Paul made?

A spate of U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks portray the Vatican as horrified over clerical sex abuse in Ireland but also deeply concerned that the procedures used by Irish investigators of the scandal were "an affront to Vatican sovereignty." The cables, released December 10-12, touched on a wide range of issues, from the Vatican's efforts to deal with leftist governments in Latin America to its recent moves to welcome disaffected Anglicans into the Catholic Church. One memo reviewed the Vatican's efforts to position itself as an intermediary with Iran in case an international crisis erupts and stated that in 2007 the Vatican had helped secure the release of British sailors detained in Iranian waters. The cables offered a rare glimpse at Vatican diplomacy in action, but through the lens of the U.S. policy experts who authored the reports. Most of the cables regarding the Vatican were written by officials of the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, sometimes after personal meetings with Vatican diplomats. The Vatican issued a disclaimer December 11, saying the reliability of the cables must be evaluated carefully and with great prudence. "Naturally these reports reflect the perceptions and opinions of the people who wrote them and cannot be considered as expressions of the Holy See itself, nor as exact quotations of the words of its officials," it said in a statement. The Vatican said publication of such secret and confidential material was a matter of "extreme seriousness." The U.S. Embassy to the Vatican repeated its condemnation of the release of classified State Department information and refused to comment on the content or authenticity of the information. The sex abuse scandal in Ireland was treated in a memo dated February 26, 2010, written by Julieta Valls Noyes, the deputy chief of mission at the embassy. She wrote that the Vatican had responded relatively quickly to the revelations of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin, in part because it had "learned key lessons" from the U.S. sex abuse scandal in 2002. "Vatican and Irish officials' first concern was for the victims," the cable said. But that concern was sometimes overshadowed by the public perception in Ireland that the Vatican was worried about "pettily procedural" matters, it said. Specifically, the Vatican was upset that the independent Murphy Commission that investigated the scandal had sidestepped diplomatic channels and tried to directly convene the Vatican nuncio, or ambassador, to answer questions and obtain other information from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Vatican complained to the Irish Embassy, saying such requests must go through diplomatic channels, and in the end the government decided not to press the Vatican to reply, the cable said. It added that contacts at the Vatican and in Ireland expected the sex abuse crisis to continue for several years, as new allegations from other Irish archdioceses come to light. The ongoing WikiLeaks situation has certainly stimulated conversation on both sides of the issue. By its nature, the political process depends on compromise. Very frequently that process comes about after many discussions, both written and spoken. The release or potential release in the future of sensitive documents like this will undoubtedly cause problems for diplomats focused on trying to resolve the many issues that occur in our complex world. I am not trying to downplay this issue in any way. But it has caused me to wonder what Jesus would have done in this situation. His leadership style was one of openness. He was most definitely a servant leader who did not ask his followers to do anything that He wouldn't do. In fact, He told them that they could not follow Him in His final endeavor, further illustrating His unique leadership style. I realize that this issue is very complex but if our leaders, both elected and otherwise, would truly govern with the best interests of the people in mind at all times, our world would be a better place. How we accomplish this is another thing altogether. Bringing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to those in leadership positions is a good start.

Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay has approved the Marian apparitions seen by Adele Brise in 1859, making the apparitions of Mary that occurred some 18 miles northeast of Green Bay the first in the United States to receive approval of a diocesan bishop. The decree on the apparitions' authenticity comes nearly two years after Bishop Ricken opened a formal investigation. On Jan. 9, 2009, he appointed three theologians to study the history of them. Brise, a Belgian immigrant, was 28 when Mary appeared to her three times in October 1859. The first appearance took place while Brise was carrying a sack of wheat to a grist mill about four miles from Robinsonville, now known as Champion. A few days later, on Oct. 9, as Brise walked to Sunday Mass in Bay Settlement, about 11 miles from her home, Mary appeared to her again. After Mass, Brise told the pastor what she had seen. He told her to "ask in God's name who it was and what it desired of her." On the way home from Bay Settlement, Mary again appeared to Brise. When Brise asked who the woman was, Mary responded, "I am the Queen of Heaven, who prays for the conversion of sinners and I wish you to do the same." She told Brise to "gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation. Teach them their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the cross and how to approach the sacraments." Brise devoted the rest of her life to teaching children. She began a community of Third Order Franciscan sisters and built a school next to the shrine. Brise's father, Lambert, built a small chapel near the spot of the apparitions. When a brick chapel was built in 1880, the trees where Mary appeared were cut down and the chapel's altar was placed over the spot.

Are you taking this time of Advent to prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? I know that you feel there are presents to buy and cards to send but stop a moment to figure out what is really important. The thing that most people want at this time of the year is love in all its many shapes and forms. It could be fellowship for someone who is experiencing a dark moment in their lives. It could be a text message to someone who is searching for a guardian angel. It could be a simple act of letting someone into the traffic line. It could be a smile as you pass someone in your building. The fact is that we all need to feel loved and this is an especially stressful time not only because we feel that we have so many obligations but because we are vulnerable. So often the holiday season brings up images and memories of unhappy moments. It is human nature that we dwell on the negative and we must fight to focus on the positive. Instead of harboring those disquieting memories, focus instead on what you enjoy about this time of the year. Look for the good. Look for the light. You know that you will find Jesus Christ when you do this. He is our light and He brings joy and love to our lives through his sacrifice. Jesus taught us that the future is best left to God our Father. Allowing our Father to guide everything that we do allows us to truly live a life filled with grace. It is the ultimate "present" at a time when we are rushing to buy the perfect gift. But we already have it in the grace that God has provided. Why not pass it on? The perfect gift that you can give to celebrate Jesus' birth is God's grace. Leading others to this magnificent gift should be our focus during Advent. Give it freely and often and know that God will continue to bless you. Only grace can move us to love God, and only God can give grace, through Christ, our Mediator. As we grow in our love of God, we are more likely to share our love with others. Let's make this Advent season a time of love.

Since when did being Pro-Family make you a member of a hate group? According to Maggie Gallagher, chairman of the board for the National Organization for Marriage, that is exactly what the Southern Poverty Law Center has done in releasing a list of groups that include the Family Research Council, National Organization for Marriage, and Concerned Women for America. The SPLC says that these groups, and others, are anti-gay and therefore hate groups. Make no mistake; this is definitely the next step in advancing the gay agenda in America. Because the Catholic Church, as God has said, defines a family as a father, a mother, and children, the SPLC claims that is hate speech. The belief is not only Biblically-based but rooted in good scientific research that shows the family unit is the best building block of a good society. We as Catholic have to look no further than the Holy Family. Joseph and Mary raised Jesus in a loving home providing foundational religious instruction along with the typical parental guidance. Jesus always exhibited the utmost of respect for Mary and Joseph, even though he was God who came to earth as man. While I am not judging those who have been unable to enjoy this type of family structure, I think it is incumbent upon us as a society to maintain this cornerstone of our existence. The reliance on the family as a core unit is essential. By making this assertion, the pro-gay community is trying to redefine Christianity as bigotry. This is equally evil and we as Christians must not allow this kind of evilness to spread. Adhering to the teachings of Jesus is foundational to us as Christians. This latest attack on Christianity illustrates the desperation that the pro-gay movement is feeling even as they claim that more people are joining their ranks. The entire issue only serves to remind me how important my family has been to me. Without their support and love, my life would have been very different. I thank God for my family and hope you do the same.

One of the most repeated transgressions of Israel mentioned in the Old Testament is the tendency of the people to create false gods. In fact, the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians during the time of Moses centered on dispelling the myth of the various gods worshipped by the Egyptians. After centuries of repeating the same mistakes, you would think that we as a people would learn. And to be fair, so of us have but not if you look at the cover of Newsweek. Picturing Barack Obama as a god is so insulting to Christians around the world. Actually, anyone who is spiritual and believes in a Higher Being (who is God for me) has to be offended by this depiction. The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist of Ann Arbor, Michigan, will be featured on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” November 23. The show will feature a sister entering religious life and explore what it means to live a religious profession being “married” to Jesus. Several sisters, including Mother Assumpta Long, major superior, were interviewed. The program’s producers also filmed Masses at which several sisters made their first and final professions and the entry of 22 aspirants into the order. Life in the order was portrayed during Oprah’s February 9 program. That segment received so many positive responses that the TV talk show host thought it would be a good idea to visit again. It is a unique way for this Order to reach out to women that may be looking for a sign. I am anxious to hear what you think about this bold move.

In a statement, the order said it hopes to reach viewers whom otherwise would have no exposure or understanding of vowed religious life.

Trusting in God is all we need to do to have a fulfilling life. Then why is it so hard for us as humans to place our trust in the God who created us? It is the same mistake that Adam and Eve made when they decided to try to take God's place. They allowed their egos to take them down the path of sin and the world was never the same. It is the same mistake that the Jews made over and over again in the Original Testament. Although God gave them numerous chances, they were led astray time after time. Finally, God became man in the person of Jesus Christ. Finally, someone showed us what trust in God can mean. Jesus trusted God even to the death. Jesus did suffer and He had doubts but He always trusted God. After He was crucified for our sins, God raised Him from the dead. Jesus shows us the way. He also provides his body in Mass each week so that we can eat of this bread and attain everlasting life. The promise of life everlasting with God is pure delight. It is perfection. It really is indescribable but it is attainable. Trust God. It is that simple.

In the 10 months since Haiti's devastating earthquake buried nearly 300,000 people beneath rubble, the response from American Catholics for relief and rebuilding has been like none before, reported Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell at the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But ongoing needs are massive and redevelopment of Haiti is proceeding slowly and with many obstacles, according to several bishops whose committees are involved in the U.S. church's ongoing assistance. Several bishops provided pieces of a comprehensive oral report about aspects of the church's efforts for Haiti. For example, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, who has long worked among the Haitian community in the United States and is chairman of the Haiti Advisory Group of the bishops' Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America, said the massive devastation in Haiti included the destruction of 70 parishes, dozens of schools, and several convents and centers of priestly formation. He asked, at the request of the Haitian bishops, that U.S. church groups use the system of church twinning to channel aid toward local parish communities. What a terrific idea. Trying to figure out a way to help. Talk to your pastor about twinning with a parish in Haiti. Sounds like a great time to start as well. Thanksgiving and Christmas are traditionally times of the year when folks start feeling more charitable. Acts 20:28 says, "Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood."

Isiah 26:1-7 says, "On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal rock. He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; He tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor. The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level." How glorious would that be if we were shouting this from the top of the highest buildings in the land or, even better, from every pulpit in the land? On this day we choose to honor our veterans, it is fitting to think about the protection that the Lord has offered to us. Why are we not rushing to accept it? In fact, many of us Catholics are embracing this offer. We are living just lives that have been made smooth by the Lord. We are shining examples to others that a life filled with God can be less troublesome. It is our duty to spread this message to others. We are the active church being used by God to conquer the loftiness of the world. To be prepared to carry out your mission, you must be trained, just as we provide training for our soldiers. On this Veteran's Day I encourage you to think about the next step in your spiritual training. How can you allow God into every corner of your life? Trust in the Lord Forever!

People are angry. When they become angry, they usually look for someone or something to blame. All too often lately, the media outlets have become the target. Do I think that some of the media outlets have an anti-Christian slant? That is a fact. Can we blame everything that is wrong in the world only on that fact? Absolutely not because we have become, like the Jews in the book of Kings, a house divided. We have lost our way and we have become two tribes. 1 Kings 12:26 says, "Jeroboam thought to himself: The kingdom will return to David's house." That was a prophesy about the coming of Jesus Christ. If we know one thing from reading the Bible, God stands by His word. The house of David, in the person of Jesus, did return to power. Jesus came to lead the Jews back to the Temple and to God. But something else happened along the way. The Gentiles were offered a place at the table and thankfully, they accepted. The Catholic Church was formed and has continued for over 2010 years but we are not unified. Are we listening and trusting in God? I think some of us are but we are definitely a house divided. That is why I was so happy when Pope Benedict XVI assumed his papacy. Pope Benedict knows what it means to be Catholic and he is listening to God. He is trying to unite the division by providing the wisdom of the word. It is hard to live in the U.S. and be a Catholic. But just as the Jews suffered in exile all of those years, we are called to teach our children and hold true to the beliefs passed down by Jesus himself. Our suffering will not be in vain. The house of David shall rise again.

Bishops must guide their faithful to use their vote to oppose efforts to legalize abortion and euthanasia, Pope Benedict XVI told bishops from Brazil. "Dear brother bishops, to defend life we must not fear hostility or unpopularity, and we must refuse any compromise or ambiguity which might conform us to the world's way of thinking," the pope said October 28 during a meeting with bishops from northeast Brazil. The bishops were making their "ad limina" visits to report on the status of their dioceses. Pope Benedict did not mention the fact that Brazilians were to vote October 31 in a presidential election, but said he wanted to discuss with the bishops their obligation to give their faithful the information and moral guidance they need to ensure their political decisions contribute to the true good of humanity. Both of Brazil's presidential candidates, Dilma Rousseff and Jose Serra, have said they oppose lifting restrictions on abortion, but Brazil's anti-abortion laws still have been a recurrent theme in the campaign. Pope Benedict told the Brazilian bishops that while direct involvement in politics is the responsibility of the laity, "when the fundamental rights of the person or the salvation of souls requires it, pastors have a serious duty to make moral judgments even in political matters." Certain actions and political policies, such as abortion and euthanasia, are "intrinsically evil and incompatible with human dignity" and cannot be justified for any reason, the pope said. While some may claim they support abortion or euthanasia to defend the weak and the poor, "who is more helpless than an unborn child or a patient in a vegetative or terminal state?" he said. "When political positions openly or covertly include plans to decriminalize abortion and euthanasia, the democratic ideal -- which is truly democratic only when it acknowledges and safeguards the dignity of every human person -- is betrayed at its foundations," Pope Benedict told the bishops. Bishops and priests have an obligation to help Catholic laity live in a way that that is faithful to the Gospel in every aspect of their lives, including their political choices, he said. "This also means that in certain cases, pastors should remind all citizens of their right and duty to use their vote to promote the common good," the pope said. This looks like some sound advice for the folks in the U.S. who call themselves Catholic as well.

A 31-year-old Michigan nursing student is experiencing her own personal housing crisis after she posted an ad on a church bulletin board looking for a "Christian roommate." After seeing the notice, someone in the community filed an official complaint with the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, alleging that the ad "expresses an illegal preference for a Christian roommate, thus excluding people of other faiths." Rather than dismiss the complaint as ridiculous on its face, the agency flew into action. "It's a violation to make, print, or publish a discriminatory statement," Fair Housing's executive director said. Representatives from the National Fair Housing Institute say it is illegal to advertise for a Christian roommate or indicate any type of religious preference. But, as the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) points out, there's nothing discriminatory about it. This woman "is not a landlord. She does not own a management company. She does not run an apartment complex," said ADF attorney Joel Oster, who is representing the woman free of charge. "She is a single person seeking to have a roommate live with her in her house. She is not prohibited by either federal law or state law from seeking a Christian roommate..." The group's lawyers argue the woman has right to look for a Christian roommate, and that right is protected under the U.S. Constitution. Regardless, Nancy Haynes, head of the Fair Housing Center, is doing all she can to give the complaint some teeth. She's already threatened hundreds of dollars in fines and "fair housing training." Although her agency will probably lose the case, the Left is still succeeding in advancing its campaign of intimidation against Christians. We can't let this happen. It's time to stand our ground and not give one single inch to those who want to push Christianity, its teachings, and its followers into the closet. Are you kidding me? Is this really happening in America?

Pope Benedict XVI in his brilliant book Jesus of Nazareth tells us that God is on the way to you. In this day of false gods and lack of faith, many people have decided that they do not need God or do not believe that God exists. Pope Benedict tells us, "...we have developed a concept of reality that excludes reality's translucence to God. The only thing that counts as real is what can be experimentally proven. God cannot be constrained into experimentation." This set off the brightest light bulb moment for me. I have been struggling with reading the Old Testament. It was my reason self that had taken over as I read. But we understand that there is faith and reason and they are separate. Trying to constrain God in a petri dish would be like trying to grab an alligator by his mouth. You will get a nub back. The same is true about God. You will blind yourself to the reality that God is bigger than that and is incomprehensible to us. His mystery lies in His majesty. So you have to ask yourself, as I have done, is my faith big enough for God? Can I become the person that He wants me to be? Am I able to become child-like in order to deepen my relationship with God? It is certainly about listening to your heart in this case. And perhaps being still enough to hear what God is telling you.

Reading the Old Testament always causes me to pause. God and Israel have a really rocky relationship. No matter what God does and how much He gives to them, Israel still does not fully trust Him. The other thing that creates problems for me is placing the story in the right context. What else is going on? What was the norm of the day? I was reading the story of Pharaoh and Moses in Exodus and as soon as I started reading about the plagues, the movie about the Ten Commandments popped into my head. How many times have I seen that movie? The images flood over you and even as you are reading the Bible, the scenes from the movie play out. I found myself saying "but where is this or that" referring to things that occurred in the movie but are not necessarily written in the Bible. Anyway, it also caused me to focus my attention on the plagues that God used to convince Pharaoh to release Israel. By digging deeper, I have come to understand that each of the plagues was designed to illustrate that God was showing his dominion over all of the "false" gods that Egypt worshiped at the time. Hapi was the god of the Nile. Without Hapi, Egypt would have died, and so he was sometimes revered even above Ra, the sun god. By turning the Nile red and rendering it useless, God is essentially cutting out all commerce and the livelihood of the Egyptians. Each of the plagues is tied to a god that relates to the action that God our Father takes to convince Pharaoh. As we know, the plague of the first-born is what finally breaks the hardness of Pharaoh's heart. This action, of course, alludes to the coming crucifixion of Jesus Christ, who is God's first born. Sometimes just reading the Bible is enough. Sometimes you really need to dig a little deeper to understand why the story is written. God is complex but our responsibilities are not. He merely wants us to trust Him in all matters.

There was an interesting article in the USA Today recently that talked about society's current obsession with fear. It seems, since September 11 or maybe because of it, we have grown increasingly more anxious about such threats as terrorism attacks, health pandemics, and environmental disasters (like the recent oil spill). The author of a new book Be Very Afraid makes the argument that "our method of coping is to make an idol out of any activity, agency or technology that will promise us security." Robert Wuthnow wrote the book and is a sociologist. Columnist Henry Brinton notes that "we worship the god of security." It has become a false idol for us because of the feeling of constant threats. Brinton says, "One of the goals of religious faith is to fashion a life that is not consumed by fear of death. This can be done by looking for eternal value in each day on earth, eternal salvation in heaven, or some combination of the two. But these approaches are difficult to sustain in our advanced liberal society." It reminds of the stories in the Old Testament that I have been reading lately as part of a Bible study group. The message in the Pentateuch is that the people of Israel failed to trust God. Over and over again, God tests his people to determine if they have learned to place their trust in their Father yet they disappoint Him numerous times. When Moses and Aaron lead Israel out of Egypt into the desert, they begin to grumble that they are thirsty. God provides Israel with water and admonishes them saying, "If you really listen to the voice of the Lord, your God, he told them, and do what is right in His eyes: if you heed His commandments and keep all His precepts, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases with which I afflicted the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer." (Exodus 15:26). God proves his reliance innumerable times but the people still doubt. We are perpetuating the same circle of doubt when we fear the world. Our faith in the Lord should overwhelm any fear we have about worldly threats. Does that mean that we should not be careful or smart? Of course not but we should not fear what we cannot control. The Lord is our protector in all matters. Can we not learn from our history? Are we going to make the same mistakes that they did? As Christians we are called to be difference makers in the world. We are called to lead all people to Jesus Christ. Are we going to let our fear conquer us? I challenge you to assume the mantel of Moses and lead God's people to his word and salvation.

Pope Benedict XVI denounced "terrorist ideologies" that spur violence in God's name as he opened a meeting Monday of bishops from around the Middle East.Pope Benedict said such ideologies were based on false gods and should be "unmasked." The pontiff made the off-the-cuff remarks at the opening working session of the meeting, or synod, which was called to address problems the minority Catholic Church faces in the largely Muslim region. In his remarks to the synod participants, Pope Benedict lamented the forces at play in the world that "enslave" men and threaten the world, citing drugs as well as "terrorist ideologies. The make violence apparently in the name of God, but it's not God: These are false divinities that must be unmasked. They are not God." Is war ever the right answer? Didn't Jesus Christ come to replace the hate and violence with peace and love? Doing something that we know is wrong and saying it is in the name of God does not make it right. Let's pray for an end to hate, violence and war in this world.

Last month, as the abortion industry celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the FDA approval of RU-486, we learned the grim news that two more women have died from complications related to the abortion drug. Since its approval in 2000, 12 women (and approximately a million babies) have died as a result of RU-486's growth in the U.S. Ella, which is almost a chemical twin of RU-486, was approved by the FDA on August 13th. According to the CDC, both women died from complications with c. sordelli, the bacteria linked to a number of RU-486 casualties from 2000-2006. Many are claiming that the FDA's approval process for RU-486 was significantly flawed. Since then, more than 1,300 women have reported adverse effects from using the drug--including 336 hospitalizations, 172 blood transfusions, and now 12 deaths. RU-486 continues to sit unopposed on pharmacy shelves, while women pay a severe price. Other drugs with less extreme effects have been pulled from the market--but the FDA seems intent on pushing a reckless abortion agenda. What's worse is the approval of ella as an "emergency contraceptive," despite the fact that it shares an almost identical chemical makeup with RU-486. Considering the similarities, there's reason to believe that the side effects will be just as dangerous. Continue to pray for an end to abortion the world over but especially in the U.S. where this radical agenda seems to be marching forward while we as Christians stand by. God will prevail and his warriors must be willing to stand against this evil.

The recent suicide of a Rutger's student who was "outed" by his roommates, pushed me to look more closely at what our Church teaches about homosexuality. The Catechism says in 2357, "Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,tradition has always declared that 'homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.' They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved. The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition." The call to treat all people with respect, compassion, and sensitivity is what struck me the most. It ties back to the issue of bullying which I wrote about in the last blog. Why is our society so obsessed with everyone being the same? What is wrong with being different? The folks that are a little different are usually the most interesting people. They are usually the folks you want to hang around with at a social gathering. Our society as a whole has become so uncivil. I am not sure that it is worse than it was ten or twenty years ago but I am convinced that technology has allowed it to reach new heights. People are able to anonymously sabotage other people's lives using the Internet in venues just like this. It very much resembles the story of the Noah's time in the original testament of the Bible. God has to be so exasperated with us as a people. I pray that He inspires leadership to step forward and address this problem specifically. I am committed to doing my part. What are you going to do?

Bullying is being blamed for the death of Asher Brown, a Texas thirteen year old, who committed suicide on September 23. I am not sure that bullying is strong enough a word. I am dumbfounded as to how people can relentlessly ridicule and harass another person. Day after day, showing up at school just to make another person's life miserable. Terrible enough to push this young man to take his own life. Satan was at work on both sides of this issue. Even more startling was a comment left by an apparent adult about this tragedy. Instead of mourning the loss and focusing on lifting the grieving family up in prayer, this person identified only as ModerateChuck said, "Another point that stands out is: how could a 13 year old get access to a pistol without his parents noticing? In my house, weapons are strictly controlled and locked." If you have read my blog before, you know of my passion for the Epistle of James. In this instance, St. James words have unfortunately come true. James 3:5-9 says, "In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God." Yes it was the tongues of others that caused Asher Brown so much pain that he chose to take his life. His tormentors used the same tongue that God has given them to praise Him and used it to curse Asher. Before we as adults think this stops at a certain age, pick up any newspaper or glance at any number of web blogs and look at the evil and vicious things we say about each other. Our loss of civility has unleashed the fire of Gehenna. People do not think twice about spreading gossip or lies about others. I have seen people smile in glee when bad things befall their supposed friends. I am praying for Asher Brown and his family. I am also praying for his tormentors that they realize their error and seek the Lord's forgiveness. Finally, I am praying for all Christians that we have the courage to make a stand when confronted with a situation like this. Have the courage of God to stand up and stop this vile activity.

A Christian event on Saturday for Fort Bragg soldiers and members of the surrounding area is unconstitutional and should be canceled, according to Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. The anti-Christian group said in a statement Thursday that the planned event — a concert and other activities called "Rock the Fort" — improperly enlists the military in a bid by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to win Christian converts. The Charlotte-based ministry has sponsored similar events on military bases around the country. According to the BGEA's website, Saturday's event in Fayetteville is different because civilians as well as military personnel will be able to attend. "Chaplains at the fort identified 20 churches in the area where most soldiers are involved," the site
says. "The churches are now walking alongside chaplains from Fort Bragg, hosting training and praying for this event." The site describes "Rock the Fort" as a chance to hear evangelists speak as well as listen to music by such Christian artists as Hawk Nelson and God Rocks. There's also a planned set of activities for
children. Bragg, which is home to the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Forces, has about 45,000 people living on post. In a letter to Secretary of the Army John McHugh
sent Thursday, lawyers for Americans United urged that the event be canceled. "The military's participation in a religious event designed to proselytize soldiers and the community departs from the Army's obligation to maintain 'official religious neutrality,'" the attorneys wrote. In its letter to McHugh, Americans United included a letter on Army stationary bearing the signature of Fort Bragg Garrison Chaplain David Hillis. The letter, dated June 2, is addressed to area Christian
pastors, asking for assistance with "this unifying Christian event." Americans United contends that chaplains in the military are restricted to holding religious services and making other accommodations for soldiers who want to practice their faith while serving in the Army. "'Rock the Fort' is not an event designed to minister to the needs of soldiers unable to otherwise access religious services," the letter to McHugh says. "Rather, it is an event designed to proselytize
soldiers and community members into the worship of Jesus Christ." I am going to be praying for the success of this event and I urge you to do the same.

Pope Benedict XVI beatified Cardinal John Henry Newman and said his vision of religion's vital role in society should serve as a model today. the pope read aloud the decree proclaiming Cardinal Newman "blessed," a major step on the way toward official recognition of sainthood. Blessed Newman, a 19th-century theologian and a prolific writer on spiritual topics, left the Anglican Church and embraced Catholicism at the age of 44. The pope announced that his feast day would be October 9, the day of his entry into the Catholic Church. In his homily, the pope drew a portrait of Blessed Newman as a man who had profound insight into the Christian call to holiness and the importance of prayer and whose eloquent prose was able to inspire many of his time and subsequent generations. In particular, he said, Blessed Newman examined the relationship between faith and reason and "the vital place of revealed religion in civilized society." The pope paid special tribute to Blessed Newman's vision of education, which combined intellectual training, moral discipline and religious commitment. He quoted the theologian's appeal for a well-instructed laity and said it should serve as a goal for catechists today: "I want a laity not arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, but men who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold and what they do not, who know their creed so well that they can give an account of it." Newman is known as the architect of the Oxford Movement. He wrote a defense of his life, Apologia pro Vita Sua, now considered the greatest spiritual autobiography since St. Augustine's Confessions

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. I am sure, like me, you have said those words thousands of times. Perhaps you were just repeating them along with everyone else. I encourage you to take a close look at what this really means. Pope Benedict XVI covers it very nicely in his book Jesus of Nazareth if you want an "expert" opinion. I am increasingly concerned that we are not paying attention to things that Jesus has specifically asked us to do and this is one of them. We know about this beautiful prayer because the apostles asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. The Lord's prayer is a definitive instruction and we are urged to listen carefully. Luke 11:4 says, "and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us." It is difficult to forgive people. We usually want to retaliate. To make them feel like we felt when they hurt us. But let's go deeper. When we "trespass" against someone we are creating hate and anger. Those things are the opposite of love and happiness and that is what God is for us. God is the truth and the way and He is love, happiness and everything good in our lives. If you have someone in debt to you, you are called to forgive them. It is a humbling experience and I am working my way down a list of folks that deserve my forgiveness. In the end, the forgiveness I offer allows me to join God in Heaven for eternal life. Isn't that our goal after all? By offering forgiveness, we are telling God that we love Him above everything else. We are so in love with God that we are not going to allow anything to cause us to miss out on a life of perfection with the Lord in Heaven. God has already forgiven our trespasses. What are we waiting for?

The anniversary of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 has certainly caused many people to stop and reflect on the implications of that event nine years removed. The topic has been raging in the national media for a while especially over the plan to place an Islamic cultural center and mosque a couple of blocks away from ground zero in New York. Georgetown University theology professor Chester Gillis says that at its core, the mosque furor is not unlike what Catholics experienced in the United States for more than 100 years. He also is dean of Georgetown College and the founding director of the program on the Church and Interreligious Dialogue within the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. While there are a wide range of political, philosophical and even zoning arguments about the Islamic center plans, Gillis sees anti-Muslim sentiment -- based in misconceptions and xenophobia -- at the core of the debate. "The neophytes in society are always on the outside," Gillis said. "With Catholics, people feared they would have loyalty to a foreign power, the Holy See." With Muslims, he added, people fear a possible connection to an Islamic government or to a terrorist organization. Public outcry erupted this summer over plans to convert a former Burlington Coat Factory store, located a little more than two blocks from the World Trade Center complex, into a nine-story Islamic cultural center, with a mosque included. The area's Muslim community already uses the vacant retail space for worshippers who overflow from the al-Farah Mosque, about a dozen blocks north of the trade center property. At an impromptu news conference August 18, New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan noted that "as Catholics, we ourselves are somewhat touchy about this issue because in the past we have been discriminated against." He said he would be happy to participate in efforts to negotiate a compromise over the Manhattan mosque as part of "a very civil, rational, loving, respectful discussion." Gillis noted that the "No Irish Need Apply" signs common in Massachusetts early in the 19th century were rooted in fears over how American society might be changed by immigrants, but particularly by their Catholic faith and culture.The fear of Catholics extended beyond the refusal to hire Irish immigrants. The Catholic Encyclopedia describes mobs descending upon a cathedral in Cincinnati in 1853, on churches in New Jersey, New York, Maine and New Hampshire the following year. It tells of a Maine priest who was dragged from his church, robbed, tarred and feathered; of Ohio churches being blown up and convents burned in Massachusetts and Texas. The development of Catholic schools, hospitals and organizations for writers, physicians, teachers and so on all happened because Catholics were not allowed in counterpart entities, Gillis explained. "CYO, for example, was intended as a counter-organization to the YMCA, where Catholics were not allowed."

Did you watch the various programs about the terrorist attacks of 9/11 this weekend? I caught a few on the National Geographic Channel. The amount of detail was astonishing. I heard for the first time, many of the personal phone calls made by people trapped in the Twin Towers and on the various airplanes used as weapons by the Al-Qaeda. I am still shocked when I see the the planes flying into the Twin Towers. The Catholic News Service also recently ran an interesting story about Fr. Tom Iwanowski, who is pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Oradell, NJ. For Jersey City residents living near Our Lady of Czestochowa (where Fr. Tom previously served), the absence of the twin towers of the World Trade Center -- which had been a dominant point of reference on the horizon -- is a constant, sad reminder of the brutal murder of 3,000 innocent people, including more than 670 from New Jersey. "As the afternoon progressed, people came to seek consolation in church and comfort in the rest area we had so quickly set up," Father Iwanowski said. "We had workers from Manhattan. We had residents from Battery Park City. We had folks from a hotel in Manhattan who arrived in their sleepwear. We had 22 students from the High School of Economics and Finance. The students literally had no idea where they were. They ran for their lives and headed for the river. The spirit of God was working in me and the parish staff members that day," he said. "God used us to be the light in the darkness. We simply reacted to the situation. Somehow we knew what we had to do. It was instinctive. How could anyone be prepared for such an event?" he asked. "The only thing you can do is be open to God. There's a sense of prayerfulness; you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you so that you can do something to answer the prayers of others." Turning from death to life, I wanted to share that Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, presented the People of Life award to three individuals for their lifetime commitment to the pro-life movement at a recent ceremony in Houston. Those honored were Professor William E. May, Msgr. Philip J. Reilly and Patricia Bainbridge. The People of Life Award recognizes those who have answered the call outlined by Pope John Paul II in The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae, 1995) by dedicating themselves to pro-life activities and promoting respect for the dignity of the human person. It is bestowed on occasion to a practicing Catholic in honor of his or her significant contribution in service to the culture of life.

I was listening to Catholic Radio this morning and heard an interesting conversation about abortion. Perhaps I haven't been paying close enough attention but apparently many of the Pink organizations (namely Susan Komen Breast Cancer) has created numerous alliances with Planned Parenthood. As you are well aware, PP is extremely pro-abortion and promotes the culture of death with the use of our tax dollars. Karen Malec, who runs the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, maintains a very informative website that explains this connection much better than I could. The program also talked about a useful source of information on the aftereffects of abortion and post-abortion healing. The website was an eye opener for me and I consider myself a very informed pro-lifer. Just goes to show how life can distract you from what is truly important. I would urge you to pray for an end to abortion in America. It is truly the most egregious human-rights violation that our great nation allows.

Did you know that there is a group that names a Single Christian of the Year? I didn't and thought the news story was perhaps kidding me. I did click and read it and was surprised to learn that Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos had been selected. Tebow says he is saving himself for marriage, meaning that he is still a virgin. I am hoping that is true but can't help but think about a number of incidents over his college career that begs the question. Anyway, I do not know and have no way of knowing if he is still a virgin so I will take the man at his word. He has been a good role model and has been very vocal about his belief in Christ. Hopefully he has brought many sports fans to the Lord and for that I thank him. While we are on the subject of sports, I wanted to pass along a story I read about Russell Shepard. He plays for the LSU Tigers and is originally from Houston, Texas. Apparently, he has a younger brother who is not as athletically skilled as Russell but nevertheless plays football. The younger brother is a senior in high school and got a scholarship offer to play at McNeese State University next year, which is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Russell was so thankful that his brother had received an offer, he sent the coach at McNeese a personal note of thanks. Now that is incredible. It shows what kind of person Russell is and I am sure that he and his brother have a very close relationship. All of this tells me a great deal about what kind of man Russell Shepard is and I am praying that he has a very successful career. Psalms 94, 17-19 tells us, "If the Lord were not my help, I would long have been silent in the grave. When I say, 'My foot is slipping,' your love, Lord, holds me up. When cares increase within me, your comfort gives me joy."

Happy birthday Mother Teresa (or more officially Blessed Teresa of Calcutta). She would have been 100 years old today. I am sure she is working hard in Heaven just as she did on earth for her Holy Father. So many people have been blessed by her presence and work. For such a tiny person, she made a loud noise but not in the usual way. It was her example, her faith with works, that brought so many people to Jesus. She continues to do that thirteen years after her death. As she often said, "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." Happy birthday beautiful lady.

If you saw Jesus on the street today and He asked you to follow Him, what would you do? Quick, make the choice! In our heart, I am sure we would say yes Lord and follow Him. It is the question asked in Sidewalk Prophets current single You Can Have Me. They go on to add the catch, "But I had to give up everything; All I once held dear and all of my dreams; Would I love You enough to let go; Or would my love run dry; When You asked for my life" It is, of course, the question that Jesus asked his apostles. They did follow him and left behind their old way of life. It made me think, would I even see Jesus in the streets of today? There are so many distractions. We are all so busy. Would I take the time to stop and talk to Jesus? If the answer is no, that signals a deeper problem. If we are indeed too busy for Jesus, what are we doing with our time that is more important? What are we doing with our time that will take care of us eternally? Are we building up the Kingdom of God with our time? I heard a statistic yesterday that said we will end up watching almost nine years worth of television over the course of our lives, yet we will only end up spending five months of our lives doing charity or religious activities. I took that as a challenge. I started doing an inventory of the time I spend on each activity. I am committed to making that five months into 5 years or more. It is probably a good way to make sure that I will see Jesus on the street if He comes looking for me.

I for one have decided to boycott Best Buy and Geek Squad. Here is why. Two years ago, Father Luke Strand, then a deacon in his last year of studies to become a priest of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, came into the spotlight for his unusual looking car. Riding around town in a black Volkswagen Beetle with a Roman collar painted on the hood, a "God Squad" logo on the sides, and a personalized license plate GODLVYA proudly proclaiming his mission, he attracted attention on the roads. The car, along with his laid-back nature and outgoing personality, sparked faith-filled conversations with friends and strangers alike. Now an associate pastor at Holy Family Parish in Fond du Lac, Father Strand is again in the public eye for his God Squad vehicle: The logo is too similar to Best Buy's Geek Squad trademark. In mid-August, Father Strand received a letter from the Minnesota-based consumer electronics company requesting that he "cease-and-desist" his God Squad logo, because of copyright infringement. The shape of the logo, font and colors, all on a black Volkswagen Beetle, were too similar to their well-known Geek Squad cars, according to the complaint sent through the company's legal department. Whether it's television, newspapers, talk radio or Internet message boards, Father Strand has garnered national attention. Many compare his situation to that of David and Goliath, in which the young priest is pitted against a greedy corporation and its lawyers. Father Strand, however, doesn't see it that way. For now, Father Strand, who consulted a lawyer about his case, has removed the decals from his car and will redesign the God Squad logo. While he is grateful that people care so much about his public legal situation, he feels that many are making this out to be a bigger deal than it is. "I was surprised," Father Strand said in an interview with the Catholic Herald, Milwaukee's archdiocesan newspaper, recalling when he first opened the letter from Best Buy. "Obviously, I didn't expect it." After consulting with a lawyer, he took the logo off his car. "We were really using the car as a way to bring the Gospel message to the streets," he explained. "To develop relationships with people and spark conversations with people, and offer them an opportunity to approach someone from the church and maybe talk about what's going on in their life. "I just found it to be a phenomenal opportunity to really spark those conversations with people who might be questioning their life, want to talk a little about where they are in their relationship with God," he added. A statement released by Best Buy's public relations department stated: "As a matter of practice, Best Buy aggressively defends all of our trademarks, including the Geek Squad logo." "We sent a notification letter to Fr. Strand and God Squad because of the unfortunate similarities between their logo and ours. This was a really difficult thing for us to do because we appreciate what Fr. Strand is trying to accomplish with his mission," it read. "But at the end of the day, it's bad precedent to let some groups violate our trademark while pursuing others. We're now working closely with Fr. Strand's organization to modify the God Squad logo so that it still works for him and yet doesn't violate the Geek Squad logo. We're confident that together we'll come up with a good (dare we say heavenly?) solution for everyone." Throughout the two years he has been driving the God Squad car, conversations with curious onlookers taught him that it wasn't the car that mattered, but his easygoing approach that truly struck a chord, according to Rhea Behlke, director of stewardship at Holy Family Parish. "It wasn't really the logo itself or the type of car itself that was important as much as the fact that it provided people an opening to talk about their faith, or to approach a priest when they might not otherwise do so. He would like to find a way to be continually creative in bringing the Gospel to the streets," she explained. Although Father Strand will have to go without his logo until a new one can be redesigned, he is adamant that his mission -- uniquely recognizable on the streets or not -- will continue. "The new evangelization is not about one car with God Squad written on it, but really about leading people to an encounter with Jesus, and that's what we're about as priests, what we are about as Catholics, the church, and that's where I want to put my time and energy," he said.

Pope Benedict XVI named Redemptorist Fr. Joseph Tobin as the new secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, colloquially known as the "Congregation for Religious." It’s the office with lead responsibility for some 190,000 religious priests and brothers, and roughly 750,000 sisters, worldwide. Tobin is the Superior General of the Redemptorists from 1997 to 2009 and becomes an archbishop by virtue of the appointment. As someone who has been influenced by Redemptorists growing up, I know that they are terrific priests that become very involved in the community life of the parishes they serve. This is a wonderful accomplishment for the order. Fr. Tobin was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 3. 1952. He is the oldest of 13 children of Joseph (deceased) and Marie Terese Tobin. Tobin was baptized at and attended a Redemptorist Parish, Holy Redeemer Church, and entered the Redemptorist minor seminary in the autumn of 1966. He entered novitiate in July 1972 and on August 5, 1973 he made his first profession. He completed his philosophy studies at Holy Redeemer College, Waterford, Wisconsin and theology studies at Mt. St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, NY, earning Masters Degrees in Religious Education and Divinity. Tobin made his perpetual profession on August 21, 1976 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 1978. The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (Congregatio pro Institutis Vitae Consecratae et Societatibus Vitae Apostolicae; CIVCSVA) is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything that concerns institutes of consecrated life (orders and religious congregations, both of men and of women, secular institutes) and Societies of Apòstolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and privileges.

My help comes from the Lord. How often do I say this throughout the day? I am slowly coming to realize how true this statement is and hearing The Museum sing these same words helps to remind me in a beautiful way. It, of course, is a scripture quoted from the Bible. Psalms 121:2-4 tells us, "My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. God will not allow your foot to slip; your guardian does not sleep. Truly, the guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps." Now that provides the comfort we are all searching for. God, our guardian, is always there to help and protect us. He is ever present if we just turn to Him. I have a friend who is walking so strongly with the Lord. During a recent torrential thunderstorm, she remarked, "thank you Lord for washing my car, it needed it." I just smiled because she is really allowing God to permeate her every fiber. I like rain and think that lightening displays the power of God but I never thought to look at a storm in that way. The Museum sing, "When I’m broken, scarred by sin, death gives way to life again." The redemption of the Lord is so sweet. It brings such comfort if we allow Him to work in our lives. Sin does produce an impediment. Sin builds walls that block our God out. We only need to remove the sin to allow our God back into our hearts. And we know that all things are possible with God in our lives. If you have slipped recently, return to the Father who never slumbers. He is waiting for you.

Hearing the readings this past Sunday at Mass has left a lasting impression on me. I returned to Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 to read the entire passage after hearing a teaser. We heard 1:2 which says, "Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!" But the next two lines are just as telling, "What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays." It speaks of the futility that many of us pursue in trying to collect as many possessions as we can. It reminds us of how easily it is to be consumed by false gods and idols rather than concentrating on God's plan for us. In 1:11 it says, "There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them." A very relevant remark for this age. We are constantly trying to reinvent ourselves, our society and our world but the problem with most of those attempts is that the decisions are being made in a vacuum. Many of us are not familiar with our past. We do not take the time anymore to read and learn about the history of our nation or the world. While the Bible is our guide for life, it also give us historical perspective. Many of the stories in the Bible provide us with valuable historical insight that can be used to guide our societal decisions. Verse 11 resonates because it reinforces the idea that God never forgets but our memories are short and that dooms us to repeat our bad decisions. Living in the plan of God allows us to rely on His memory. It provides a solid foundation that encourages us to pray and be thoughtful when we make decisions. It is the way of truth.

Some of the oldest images of the Apostles Andrew, John, Peter, and Paul were recently uncovered in the catacombs of Rome. Art restorers in Italy made the discovery using laser technology. They appear to be from the second half of the 4th Century or the early 5th Century. The tomb belonged to a Roman noblewoman in the Santa Tecla catacomb and had come to light over two years ago but the restoration process has just now allowed the images to be accessed so that proper identification could be made of the pictures. Some of the folks working on the project note that the images certainly had an influence on later pictures of the Apostles. The project leader, Barbara Mazzei, said that the find was very emotional. The project is being funded by the Vatican. It is times like these when I am glad that science continues to be used in matters like this. We walk by faith and now that the Apostles were real people but it is nice to have validation of this sort. Having these images also allows us to realize a clearer image of Jesus Christ. There are so many conflicting images of Him in the world and they continue to change over time. Not of paramount importance in the grand scheme of things, but it helps to validate to those that do not profess a faith in Jesus that He did indeed walk among us. The Apostles were humans who embarked on an incredible journey; one that is open to us as well but we must take the first step.

The scripture today comes from Obadiah in the Original Testament. "The pride of your heart has deceived you: you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose abode is in the heights, Who say in your heart, Who will bring me down to earth?" (v3). It got me to thinking about the pride we carry as people. There are two kinds of pride of course and I am not talking about the kind that you feel as a parent when your child does something wonderful. I am not talking about the pride you feel when a friend is recognized for doing God's will. I am talking about the kind of pride that causes people to put themselves above our Lord. The kind of pride that allows people to say, "prayer takes the place of thinking." The kind of pride that leads one to say, that prayer hinders medical and scientific advances, it is a distraction." Who will bring me down to earth indeed? Thou shall have no other gods before Me. The first commandment tells us in very plain language that we should depend on God for everything. If we are putting out faith into anything else, it is merely a dead end. Anyone who has walked this road knows what I am talking about. In the moment, it feels terrific but then reality begins to settle in and the search is on for the next great "god." We often call it addiction in modern day terms. We also call it obsessions but in reality it is distractions. Anything that gets in our way of a true and deep relationship with God is another god. Looking back at Obadiah's writing makes us think of the heights that we place ourselves at and think that is a permanent thing. Then we spend every waking moment trying to maintain that level of intensity. It is a false god. It is not sustainable and will leave you unfulfilled. Turn to God your Father and live in His light. There you will be fortified with the rock of Jesus Christ.

Thank you almighty God for sending Tropical Storm Bonnie to clean up the oil spill created by man. Many had wondered what it was going to take to clean up this disaster but those of us who trust in your providence knew that you would take care of this. We also thank you for the slow but steady recovery of Haiti and for allowing stability to take hold. I attended a wonderful Mass at St. Anthony Cathedral in Beaumont, TX this weekend and heard Bishop Guillory preach for the first time. He was terrific and used modern day examples to further illustrate the Lord's word from the Gospel reading. What really struck me was his emphasis on the first reading as well. Bishop Guillory talked about forgiveness in such a way that it made me begin to look at so many things in a different light. Our society is very focused on public humiliation. People are recording and filming others in very unflattering situations. It seems that many are taking great joy in the downfall of others. I am not saying that we should not seek to expose corruption or evil. Bishop Guillory urged us to take a very different approach than what is prevailing at the moment. He says that Jesus instructed his disciples to talk one-on-one with anyone that they had a disagreement with and resolve the issue between themselves. He noted that this public humiliation fascination is contrary to God's teachings. I agree and will focus on settling my disagreements in a more private manner. In addition, I will not support anything (TV shows, movies, etc.) that seek to publicly humiliate rather than reconcile. All of our decisions have consequences and very often when we are upset with "society", we have helped to create the situation with our choices. I hope you have a blessed week full of forgiveness.

What an uproar has occurred at the University of Illinois over Catholic doctrine. It seems that Kenneth Howell, an adjunct instructor, sent an email to his students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In the email, Howell was trying to clarify a teaching point about utilitarianism and used the subject of homosexuality to illustrate his point. In the email explanation Howell says, "Before looking at the issue of criteria, however, we have to remind ourselves of the ever-present tendency in all of us to judge morality by emotion. The most frequent reason I hear people supporting same-sex marriage is that they know some gay couples or individuals. Empathy is a noble human quality but right or wrong does not depend on who is doing the action or on how I feel about those people, just as judging an action wrong should not depend on disliking someone. This might seem obvious to a right thinking person but I have encountered many well-educated people who do not (or cannot?) make the distinction between persons and acts when engaging moral reasoning. I encourage you to read the final essay editorial I sent earlier to reflect on this. In short, to judge an action wrong is not to condemn a person. A person and his/her acts can be distinguished for the purposes of morality." He goes on to say, "Natural Moral Theory says that if we are to have healthy sexual lives, we must return to a connection between procreation and sex. Why? Because that is what is REAL. It is based on human sexual anatomy and physiology. Human sexuality is inherently unitive and procreative. If we encourage sexual relations that violate this basic meaning, we will end up denying something essential about our humanity, about our feminine and masculine nature." A student, who is sympathetic to the homosexual lifestyle but was not enrolled in Howell class, became upset and anonymously reported Howell's actions to an administrator at Illinois. Howell has now been releaved of his duties for next semester. He is teaching a class on Catholic belief and has done so for years. But because someone does not like hearing anything that disagrees with their own world view, he is being punished. The bottom line is Howell used the example to illustrate his point in the correct context and his logic was sound. In addition, his interpretation of the doctrine is correct. So the issue becomes one of free speech and more fundamentally, moral truth. We all know that that is a red flag in this climate of political correctness and group-think. Howell is suffering for his Church and more importantly being attacked because of his belief in Jesus Christ. Pray that he be restored to his position and that his example will bring more believers to the salvation offered by Jesus Christ.

A friend of mine recently took a trip to Israel. He mentioned that one of the most toughing moments of his trip was his visit to the Western Wall. I should mention that he is Jewish and so this visit had added significance. One of the more interesting comments he made was the diversity of people he saw at the Wailing Wall, as many people have labeled it. It is a very important Jewish religious site located in the Old City of Jerusalem. A lot of the wall was constructed in 19BC with the remaining parts being added in the 7th century and is said to be what was left of Solomon's original Temple after its destruction. It gained the additional title of wailing because Jews would frequently come to the wall and lament the destruction of the Temple. The reason people pray at the wall is because it is believed to be the closest point to the Holy of Holies, the holiest room of the old Temple. My friend's comments left me with thoughts about the significance of this type of gathering space in the U.S. Having sacred places that draw people of different faiths would seem to be a beneficial thing in this country. It really emphasizes the things we agree about rather than highlighting our differences. It is the ultimate ecumenical instrument. I then wondered how one would go about proposing this type of gathering spot and was soon overwhelmed with all of the legal implications it would create. And that is just sad. I told my fiend that if he planned to return to Israel, I wanted him to carry a prayer for me and insert it into the Wall's crevices. My prayer is that there be more places like the Wall that will bring people together for the purpose of worshipping God.

"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" James 2-3. Couldn't we all use a little more perseverance in this day and age? Perseverance, in theological terms, means continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation. The ultimate prize, eternal life with God in Heaven. So how are you doing on the state of grace thing? The Church teaches us that to receive Communion worthily, you must be in a state of grace, have made a good confession since your last mortal sin, believe in transubstantiation, observe the Eucharistic fast, and, finally, not be under an ecclesiastical censure such as excommunication. St. Paul also weighs in on this and says, "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:27–28). Because Communion is an intimate encounter with Christ, in which we sacramentally receive Christ into our bodies, that we may be more completely assimilated into His, it is important that we come to the altar fully prepared. It is something we as Catholics take for granted. Each Sunday (or Saturday) we walk to the front of the Church and receive our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's body and blood. But shouldn't we pause and think about this more carefully? Maintaining a state of grace is difficult but certainly not impossible. What it does speak to is our personal choices. Are we supporting the types of things that Jesus would support? Do we watch the types of television programs that Jesus would watch? Are we frequenting the types of places that Jesus would frequent? Are we acting in a way that is consistent with what we are proclaiming each and every Sunday when we receive Communion? I am spending more time pondering my state of grace and how to maintain my status. I want to be assimilated into Jesus' body and to do that I must be concerned about what I am putting into my body, what my body is doing and seeing, and how I am treating others. But remember, St. James tells us that the testing we go through allows our perseverance skills to grow. In the end, it all leads to a closer walk with God.

Each summer the people of St. Mary Roman Catholic Church invite their friends and neighbors in the Manchester, Michigan area to a gathering to explain and clarify what the Catholic Church is and what it is not. Deacon Dennis Walters of St. Mary’s, who will lead the sessions, asks inquirers to consider a quote by Bishop Fulton Sheen, the famous television priest from the 1950s. “There are not 100 people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are many who hate what they wrongly think the Catholic Church to be,” he once said. Walters says the sessions will address common misconceptions such as thinking that Catholics don’t have to read the Bible, don’t accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, practice human traditions rather than God-ordained worship, worship Mary, or follow a religion of rules and regulations rather than faith in Christ. Walters states these notions are “all wrong” and that even Catholics would reject a church that taught them. I think this is a terrific idea especially in light of the Church's current situation on the world stage. It extends the call by Jesus to go out and spread the word as individuals. Many of us do not feel equipped or prepared to carry out our discipleship duties. This method provides a nice starting point that leans heavily on the leadership. I am praying that the folks in Manchester become so empowered by the sessions that each of them takes their show on the road. In addition, I am praying that this effort be duplicated the world over. We can do this, we just need to take the first step.

Where do you stand as a Catholic in this time or turmoil? Have you struggled with the implications of dwindling priests exacerbated by the abuse scandal? Have you spent time in prayer, talking with God about your role in the future of your Church? Do you have an idea of how you will use the talents, abilities and gifts that God has provided you to make a difference in this world especially within your Church? Have you asked God to use you in this way? Catholic blogger John L. Allen Jr. writes that the Catholic Church under Pope Benedict XVI is adopting a strategy that many minority groups have employed in the past. Now Allen is kind enough to define what he feels is a minority group because my first reaction, and probably yours, is that the Catholic Church cannot be a minority group based on the fact that it is the largest Christian Church in the world and it continues to grow at the macro level. However, Allen makes the point that because of the recent attacks against the Church, we Catholics are being treated like all minority groups by suffering discrimination and subordination and common burdens, among other things, that is creating a we versus them mentality. He is not suggesting that the Pope is using public relation tactics to change the tide of negative publicity but merely responding to the current crisis. I think that the leadership exhibited by Pope Benedict has been strong and worthy of emulation. If Allen is right in his assertion that Pope Benedict is viewing the current situation through the lens of what Arnold Toynbee describes as creative minority, then I am hopeful that change is coming. The idea is that when great civilizations enter a crisis, they either decay or are renewed from within by “creative minorities” who offer a compelling vision of the future. Which returns me to my first point. Are you willing to be part of this creative minority that rebuilds the Lord's Church from the inside? The folks that attempt to tear the Church apart are only being used by Satan as one of his devils. We must allow God to use us to counter this attack. We must become the hands, feet, mouth, and brains of the creative minority within God's Church so that we can continue to allow His work on earth. Will you answer the call?

The real news is so outrageous that you don't even have to try to make it up. Students in Provincetown, Massachusetts – from elementary to high school – will be able to get free condoms at school, under a policy passed earlier this month, even though their parents might object. The policy, which requires school nurses to supply condoms to any student who asks. The policy had its roots with a school district wellness committee, an independent board of appointed community members that recommended making condoms available at schools.“I don’t like that students can’t be discreet about this,” said school committee member Shannon Patrick. “They have to go and ask for it. I’d rather them not have the conversation [with counselors] and have the condom than not have the condom.” What about the rights of the parents and respecting their religious beliefs? “I can see some kids opting out because of the conversation. I’m not against [the policy]. I’m just trying to put myself in that teenager’s spot,” said committee member Carrie Notaro. The adults are the ones that elected you to represent them, not the students. The district noted that although sex education is taught in health classes, there isn’t any detailed instruction on condom usage, including the fact that condoms are not a 100 percent guarantee against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. I hope there is an upswing in the enrollment of Catholic and Christian schools in this area of the country. In addition, I hope that the Catholic schools make provisions to accept those who may not be able to afford the tuition. We have seen the deterioration of public schools as the ACLU and others work overtime to remove all vestiges of God from the classroom. This is a fantastic example of how the devils are at work.

Sr. Lucia Brady, O.S.C. is Pastoral Assistant and heads the RCIA program at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Largo, Florida. St. Jerome is home to almost 2,800 families and more than 6,200 parishioners. Active parish ministries number more than 50. If you would like to share your thoughts like Sr. Lucia did, simply answer the Seven Question Survey and return it to fellmananthony@gmail.com. I know that St. Lucia’s responses will bless you.

1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far? One of the biggest challenges to my faith was a time when our family suffered five deaths in the space of three years as well as some personal illness. One of the deaths was my younger brother, who was killed by a drunken driver while he was walking on the footpath. It took me some time to forgive the driver and to come to an awareness of God's plan for me during this time.

2. What scripture do you find yourself turning to most often? In Him I live and move and have my being (Acts 17:28).

3. How do you think God is revealing his presence to us in the world today? God is revealing God's self through His Word in Scripture, in people, events of each day, in His Body the Eucharist, in His Body the Church, the people of God, in nature.......so many ways.

4. Do you have a book that you would recommend to people trying to develop their spirituality? The Gospels and people who try to live the Gospel message.

5. Why do you think bad things happen to good people? We are followers of Jesus who SUFFERED, died and of course rose again....We are Christians and followers of Jesus Christ. Can we expect otherwise?

6. What have you found is the most effective way to introduce the word of God to a nonbeliever? Personal invitation, sharing one's own journey, introduce to others on the faith journey, be as the early Christians...their love for one another is what drew people to the early Church.

7. Do you have a favorite saint and if so, why? Mary as model for all Christians...She LISTENED totally to God in her life and was obedient to Him

"That you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth. Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil." I am starting the blog today with Ephesians 4:22-27 for a specific reason. I noticed a news story this morning that has my blood boiling. Apparently, Reverend Jeffrey Newell is still a priest, serving in the Diocese of Tijuana. I say still because he was supposed to be barred from being anywhere near children after he was reported for child abuse. The Diocese of Los Angeles agreed to ban Newell in a settlement with the victim who had been molested by Newell for several years, beginning when the cleric was first a youth minister and then a seminarian. Newell also has a MySpace page that includes several young boys in his friends list. I am angry at my Church today. But it is righteous anger and that is why I started with the passage from St. Paul. The command, “be angry” seems strange and most would not expect this to be found in the Bible. It may confuse some of us as well. We find ourselves trying to avoid or explain this command away, because anger does not sound godly. But we must remember that there are two kinds of anger. There is the “anger of man” which “does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:20), and the anger which is an expression of God’s righteousness. St. Paul urges us to be angry in a way that is righteous, that is a reflection of God. This decision to allow Jeffrey Newell to continue in active duty lets me know that there is misguided leadership at work and the devil is at play. This must stop now. I am urging everyone to pray that this error be corrected today. The Church must put on a new self. Pope Benedict has promised that this will not be accepted and I am praying that he adorn himself with righteous anger and resolve this issue before Newell is tempted by the devils to sin again. God's righteousness must be invoked for this situation to be rectified.

The U.S. Bishops met recently in St. Petersburg Florida. While there, they offered a prayer for the ongoing crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. That is not unusual. What I found most interesting is the final part of their prayer. It says, "Finally, we offer our prayers for our government leaders and for the industry leaders and experts who are working to cap the leak and repair this damage. May God give them wisdom and strength in this trying hour, and may He move them to seek lasting solutions benefiting the common good of our society." What a wonderful prayer to say everyday. When we elect people to positions of leadership, the expectation is that they will respect the followers. After all, without followership there can be no leadership. I feel that may be part of the problem in the U.S. right now. The followers have so little faith in the leaders that we are all wandering looking for something else. Unfortunately for many people that something else can be destroying their lives. Returning to the prayer offered by the Bishops, I particularly was touched by the statement about seeking lasting solutions that benefit the common good of our society. The problem presented by that statement is that we have not stopped to consider what the common good for our society is or could be. Now there is an abundance of talking heads on the television that tell us what their version of the common good is and that is part of the conversation. But are we as God's people having the same conversation in our churches or parish halls? Are we gathering as prayerful women and men to consider how to effect change that will bring about lasting solutions that are grounded in Godliness? What the prayer said to me most loudly is that we must be actively talking with God everyday about everything. We should be asking Him to guide us in all that we do. We should be asking Him to deliver the solution to calamities like the oil leak in the Gulf. And we should definitely be asking Him to provide us with the leadership that will allow us to use the abilities, talents and gifts He gave us to make the world a more Godly place.

I wish I lived in or near Wilmore, Kentucky. Why you ask? Because then I could attend the Ichthus Music Festival. The artist lineup is incredible. Skillet, Toby Mac, Casting Crowns, Switchfoot, Newsboys, Superchick, Francesca Battistella, and Josh Wilson are just a few of the folks performing. I also like the fact that Chick-fil-A is one of the sponsors. That company is very consistent with its message and it is always grounded in Christianity. Their boldness deserves to be recognized and supported. Anyway, back to the festival and all that it involves. They also have an outstanding array of speakers including Dave Ramsey. The Ichthus Music Festival is the oldest and longest-running Christian music festival in the nation. It was started in 1970 by an Asbury Seminary professor Dr. Bob Lyon and a group of his students as a positive and redemptive response to the 1969 Woodstock Festival in Upstate New York. Did you know that ichthus is Greek for fish. It was the symbol that Christians used to indicate that they were hosting gatherings. They had to utilize the symbol because of the persecution that was going on at the time. Does it feel like history is repeating itself? The other thing that I found unique about the music festival is the code of conduct. All in all, this looks like a can’t miss event. Now if I could just get to Wilmore.

My financial adviser called me the other day to check on my retirement status. She said that she had looked at my portfolio and did not like how it was performing. She was very concerned about my future and my ability to enjoy my current quality of life. Did I have the same concerns she asked? It caused me to pray about the matter. I was drawn to Psalms 39:19, which says, "In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty." I know that God is not telling us to sit idly by and do nothing. I think what He is telling us in this passage is to enlarge out expectations. I understand that my financial adviser has a job to do and she is thinking in very earthly terms. But I also am afraid that she may be thinking of making sure my cup is full when God is planning to send me a river. I know that my reward in Heaven will be more than I can ever expect. I am not sure if I am really prepared for that. Our God provides more than enough. He is not bound by the same earthly limitations that we are. In fact, we cannot even imagine His abundance. So why are we worried? I know there is trouble in the economy but I am choosing to place my trust in the Lord. I am working and budgeting and spending my money wisely. I am putting aside money for later in life. At the same time, I am making sure to give the Lord His share. I am also making sure I am donating money to others in need. We cannot hide ourselves away and hope everything works out. God is calling us to be bold in our expectations and to serve Him fully. That means we must expect God to provide for us. And when He does, we should be quick to thank Him.

Sunday we celebrate the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua. He is very special to me and I have felt his presence in my life for a long time. Did you know that he is regarded as the quickest person to be named a saint? Pope Gregory IX named him a saint less than a year after his death in 1231. Also, it is reported that when he died, the bells of the churches in Padua rang of their own accord. Many people said that the angels rang the bells to welcome Anthony to Heaven. St. Anthony has been a good prayer partner for me over the years and I continue to call on my friend to join me in prayer for various issues and conflicts. I encourage you to connect with one of the saints and build a relationship. Discover why they were selected to become a saint and ask them to pray for you and your needs. You may find the same comfort I do with St. Anthony, as I know he is always at my side. I just discovered that the Catholic Student Center at Lamar University is adding a new chapel to their on-campus facility. Apparently the Diocese of Beaumont made it a priority and raised the money to enhance the experience for the Catholic students. What a fantastic decision and commitment. I am praying that God bless this ministry and that hundreds of students discover the joy of living in communion with Jesus Christ everyday. As St. Paul writes in Philemon 1:20, "Refresh my heart in Christ."

What next, what next? That is what I keep hearing people say about the world's current state. The Great Flood of 2010 in Nashville has certainly allowed folks to show their true spirit. So many have answered the call to action. Faith without works is just emptiness. Allowing God to use you for greatness is such a blessing. I encourage everyone to try it sometimes. I was so moved this morning on the way to work. The latest Casting Crowns song came on. It is called If We Ever Needed You. It certainly captures the situation of the world at present. With the massive oil disaster in the once beautiful Gulf of Mexico on top of the other disasters that have been coming at us combined with the lack of leadership in the White House, we are indeed in need of God's hand now. I am praying for all of the folks who depend on the Gulf for their livelihood. The oil spill is threatening to wipe out a way of live for so many people. It is truly devastating to sit and watch as the oil keeps spewing and humankind is helpless. The best scientific minds in the word are clueless when it comes to stopping this disaster. Pray mightily that the Lord will put an end to this oil spill. He is the only one that can do it at this point. Hopefully our magnificent Gulf will be restored to its incredible beauty but it may take years. Of course, with God all things are possible and I am praying that He reveals his majesty in this task. As Casting Crowns sing, "With shipwrecked faith, the idols rise. We do what is right in our own eyes. Our children now will pay the price. We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light. Amen!

I am so excited about a new voice that has emerged on Christian radio. If you have not heard Audrey Assad, get ready to hear purity and light. Not only is she singing about God and offering Him glory and praise, she is not playing the typical games that so many pop stars play. She is being honest about her faith life and the journey that has led her to this point. Raised a Protestant from birth, she became a Catholic about three years ago. I encourage you to read her story in her own words here. You should also get a copy of her latest album, For Love of You. What I love about Audrey is her strong show of support for Pope Benedict. How mature and insightful is this young woman? She is able to understand, unlike many who are twice her age, that Pope Benedict is not a place holder in the Seat of Peter. He is there to lead and guide the church that Jesus established. Pope Benedict stands for the righteousness that is the Catholic Church and has served her well over these last 2000 years. Welcome to the flock Audrey.

Two reports over the last few days have me very excited about some upcoming film releases. The first is a film about martyred monks that recently received the second prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Usually something at Cannes does not interest me at the awards usually go to movies that are either very humanistic and worldly or political and celebrating hedonistic themes. The film is called "Of Gods and Men" and is about a group of French monks who were martyred in Africa during the 1990s. The French director, Xavier Beauvois, centers the movie around the true story of seven Cistercian monks who were taken hostage and murdered by Islamic fundamentalists in 1996. There are news reports that the audience members wept during the presentaion of the film in Cannes. The monks, who lived contemplative lives in the service of the poor in the Atlas Mountains built strong friendships with their surrounding community and lived in relative peace until conflict arises between the local government and extremist groups. Though the monks are advised by everyone involved to leave, each one decides to stay and is eventually held hostage and murdered by the fundamentalists. Beauvois uses a real incident to spin his story of monks, their meandering ways, their religion and the ritualistic harmony they share with the local Muslim population. Critics had noted that the narrative leads leisurely to the climax, handled with dignified care. I am anxious to see this inspiring story. In addition, "The Last Summit" is being released and was directed by documentary filmmaker Juan Manuel Cotelo. It is the story of a diocesan priest, Father Pablo Dominguez, (who is also a philosophy professor) who died a year ago in a tragic accident. The documentary features testimonies from friends, family members, students and acquaintances, as well as interviews with Cardinal Antonio Canizares, Bishop Demetrio Fernandez of Cordoba and Archbishop Jesus Sanz of Oviedo. According to critics, “The first half of the movie could be a very useful vocational tool. The second half, which deals with Father Dominguez's death, has already proven to be effective by helping people, whether they are believers or not, who have confronted the death of a loved one.” Finally some positive and truthful portrayals of men who chose to give their lives to and for Christ.