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Comfort the Afflicted by Mark Shea - July 27, 2010Reprinted with permission from our good friends at InsideCatholic.com, the leading online journal of Catholic faith, culture, and politics.Last week, I had an earache. You nod briefly. Okay. Duly noted. Earache. Can we get on to the article?I reply, "You don't get it. Last week, I had an earache." I don't mean, "Little twingy pain, like a headache or a sore toe." I mean, "Worst and most excruciating pain I have felt in three decades." Up there with the Great Wisdom Tooth Agony of '78. Worse than the Line Drive...

A German cardinal has publicly opposed the words of two other German bishops who have suggested that the nation’s Church can form its own policies without direction from Rome. Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes published a letter earlier this month objecting to the pronouncements of prominent leaders of the Church in Germany that the nation's bishops' conference will pursue its own program of pastoral care for marriages and family regardless of the outcome of October's Synod on the Family. At a Feb. 25 press conference following the German bishops' plenary assembly, Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, who is president...

In an eight page document in preparation for the Synod on the Family the diocese of Essen, Germany, has asked the Vatican to elaborate a “Rite for the blessing of same-sex-couples”, to de facto abolish the indissolubility of marriage, to accept adultery and to allow artificial birth control. According to the document, blessing of practiced homosexuality would be a – quote – “sign of justice” and “non-discrimination”.

Q: I was talking with an Evangelical co-worker and he said the Bible teaches that once we are “saved,” we can never lose our salvation. Is that true?   A:  Absolutely not.  In fact, the Bible is full of passages that either directly or indirectly contradict this doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved.”  For example: Romans 11:17-23, “But if some of the branches were broken off [the Jews], and you, a wild olive shoot [the Gentiles], were grafted in their place to share the richness of the olive tree [Jesus Christ], do not boast over the branches...For if God...

An examination of the history and background to the so called Photian Schism of the 9th Century, one of the most important events in the history of the early Church. It also discusses in detail the two competing synods (AD 869-70 and 879-80) that claimed to be the 8th Ecumenical Council. Both synods enjoyed recognition by the pre-Schism Church as the Eighth Ecumenical Council. The earlier synod until it was annulled by the Council of 879-80. and the latter for about two centuries. The Church of Rome switched its support back to the earlier synod in the 11th century which...

FULL TITLE: Exclusive: Cardinal Burke says ‘manipulation’ at Synod was driven by agenda to undermine teachings on marriage LifeSiteNews Paris correspondent Jeanne Smits and Cardinal Raymond Burke Olivier Figueras / LifeSiteNews Note: Sign the petition to Pope Francis on the Synod and the future of the family, also signed by Cardinal Burke, here.ROME, March 24, 2015 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- In an interview with LifeSiteNews Paris correspondent Jeanne Smits, Cardinal Raymond Burke warns that confusion is spreading among Catholics regarding divorce and homosexuality.In a wide-ranging interview published today in full on LifeSiteNews, the cardinal, who until recently was the head of the Vatican’s highest...

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - The Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Arabia, which serves the more than 2 million Catholics in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen, last week celebrated the 50th anniversary of its cathedral parish. On March 19, Bishop Paul Hinder, Vicar Apostolic of Southern Arabia, said a Mass of thanksgiving to mark the anniversary of the founding of St. Joseph's Cathedral, located in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. St. Joseph's is the oldest Catholic church in the emirates. Bishop Hinder was joined by more than 30 priests, nuns, and over 5,000 laity for...

Featured Term selected at random:KULTURKAMPF A movement in Prussia, Bavaria, Hesse, and Baden to make the Catholic Church subject to the state and independent of Rome. Professor Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902), the liberal scientist who named it, called it a struggle for civilization. Bismarck and Falk, the political leaders, were actively supported by the Church's enemies in and out of the German Parliament. Their aim was to destroy papal influence and build up a national church, strengthening Protestant power. Religious orders were forced by impossible laws to secularize their schools or leave the country. Clergy were fined or punished for practicing...

Certain situations coming up now will not be explainable or even understandable without first coming to the Shepherd of your ways for truly as "THE" WORD(Eternal) now my children of light "will see" that to step out into unfamiliar ground will be utter futility and that inquiring first of Me before they take a step or speak a word will bring the correct illumination, judgment and the eventual decision or action to take . Here are the Keys to The Kingdom seek Me first in all you do and the other keys will reveal themselves to you . Matthew 26:40...

(Photo: BishopBootkoski.jpg) Story Highlights Patricia Jannuzzi was suspended by Immaculata High School two weeks ago after her personal Facebook post on the gay 'agenda' went viral. A conservative Catholic group is running radio ads defending the teacher. The Diocese of Metuchen says no decision has been made whether to rehire the teacher. SOMERVILLE – A longtime Catholic school teacher suspended from her job after celebrities drew attention to her anti-gay posts on Facebook has become a cause célèbre among a growing number of conservatives rushing to her defense. And the controversy shows no signs of slowing down as questions...

Some Strategies for Overcoming Temptation By: Msgr. Charles PopeThis is part two of an article on temptation. See yesterday’s post for part one.How can we overcome temptation?Remote Battles are Essential! When people ask about overcoming temptation they most often have in mind what to do “in the moment” of temptation. But if we focus merely on the moment of temptation we are missing the bulk of the work that needs to be done. For in order to become more successful in withstanding temptation, a strong foundation needs to be established. There is much “remote” work to be done such...

Marx's comments "belong in the village pub": Cardinal Josef Cordes' letter to Tagespost publicly rebuking German Bishops' Chairman The German-language Catholic news website Kath.net provided a few days ago an authorized summary of the letter sent by Cardinal Cordes to Tagespost on Cardinal Marx's most recent controversial statements, in effect declaring the independence of the German Church. Translation by reader "K":Vatican City. Authorised summary of a letter to the editor of the “Tagespost” from March 7, 2015, in which Paul Josef Cardinal Cordes, former president of the papal work COR UNUM, publicly refutes some statements made by Reinhard Cardinal...

Priests says that doctrine and practice must 'remain firmly and inseparably in harmony'Almost 500 priests in England and Wales have signed a letter urging those attending this year’s family synod to issue a “clear and firm proclamation” upholding Church teaching on marriage. In the letter, published in this week’s Catholic Herald, the priests write: “We wish, as Catholic priests, to re-state our unwavering fidelity to the traditional doctrines regarding marriage and the true meaning of human sexuality, founded on the Word of God and taught by the Church’s Magisterium for two millennia.” Last year’s extraordinary synod provoked heated debate on...

Changes in ambiguous wording, tepid warnings from Catholic bishops, and deep concerns about children are part of the tense lead-up to May 22nd vote Just two months before a May 22nd 'Marriage Equality' referendum, many commentators predict Ireland will become the first country in the world to insert a constitutional amendment permitting civil marriage between two people of the same gender. A distinctive feature of Irish democracy has been frequent recourse to constitutional referendums. May’s referendum will be the 35th time voters have been asked to amend the constitution in less than 80 years. The origin of this state of...

Admonish the Sinner by Mark Shea - July 6, 2010Reprinted with permission from our good friends at InsideCatholic.com, the leading online journal of Catholic faith, culture, and politics.Of all the works of mercy, probably the most thankless and despised is admonishing the sinner. Nobody wants to do it (except human toothaches and people who never get invited to parties), and nobody wants it done to them."Repent!" is one of those words that eats at the heart of all but the most egotistical jerk. "Who the hell are you, you great hypocritical gasbag, to go all John the Baptist on...

March 24, 2015Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent    Reading 1 Nm 21:4-9 From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road,to bypass the land of Edom.But with their patience worn out by the journey,the people complained against God and Moses,“Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,where there is no food or water?We are disgusted with this wretched food!” In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,which bit the people so that many of them died.Then the people came to Moses and said,“We have sinned...

A week ago today, Italian journalist and avowed atheist Eugenio Scalfari published an article containing notes from a new interview with Pope Francis. Although the article provoked some reactions in the Italian press, the rest of the world has been somewhat slow to register the publication and what it contains: Giuseppe Nardi reported on Scalfari's article on the 18th, and The Remnant blog picked up the story yesterday. This uncharacteristic sluggishness in reporting is not very surprising, as Scalfari's already dubious reputation among Catholics was irreparably damaged after the publication of similar notes from an interview last Summer which proved...

[41] Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25: 41 Yet another fruit of Pope Francis’ policy of giving interviews and then never giving any sort of explanation after the feathers hit the fan. From Mahound’s Paradise: On to the Scalfari piece. It’s an editorial reflection in La Repubblica on what the journalist wants to see happen in the Church, so it’s not a new interview, per se. But he includes a part where he...

Only days after stripping the disgraced pervert Cardinal, Keith O'Brien of his title and power and sending him to retire quietly in a £200,000 cottage, Pope Francis; amidst the outrage of the people of the Diocese of Osorno in Chile has permitted another bishop to take his Cathedra - a man implicated in the scandal of sodomy and perversion and the abuse of three men from the time they were boys. Is this to be considered another "who am I to judge" episode as with Msgr. Ricca appointed to a high position within the Vatican Bank? If so, then the...

SOMERVILLE, NJ -- A Catholic school has decided not to rehire a theology teacher who rejected the argument in favor of gay “marriage” on her private Facebook page, her family has announced. The controversy began last week after a student found a Facebook post by Patricia Jannuzzi, a 57-year-old theology teacher at Immaculata High School in Somerville, New Jersey. In it, Jannuzzi said that advocates of redefining marriage argue that they “are born this way and it is not a choice, to get 14th amendment rights equal protection” – which was intended for “unchangeable characteristics such as race and disability.”...