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No fan of the National Catholic Reporter, here is one article where John Allen truly strikes a chord.

Understanding how the rest of the Catholic world sees things is critical to effective communication.

Many Catholics are not aware that the Church is both Western and Eastern. There are 22 different Catholic Rites, including Byzantine, Armenian, Coptic, Chaldean, Melkite, Maronite, Ukrainian, and Ruthenian. A Roman Catholic may attend Mass at any of the Eastern Catholic Churches and fulfill their Sunday obligation.

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Great and informative article. Thanks!

"No fan of the National Catholic Reporter..."

I know exactly what you mean. There was too much mention of racial and economic differences and not enough on the Universality of the Sacramental Life. Race and economics are going to be a useless argument the more interracial marriages happen and making wealth becomes as easy as breaking a sweat. The missed point that this article should have mentioned is "OBEDIENCE"!

"I and many African Christians are always at a loss to comprehend....Why should people who do not desire to have children go after other people's children?"

I'm surprised that African Christians would asked such a question given that they rank high in spirituality for recognizing the fact that Devils are very real creatures and possession is a very terrible reality. Answer to the question: The focus of demonic action is to sever souls' relationship with the Mystical Body of Christ. Homosexuality is an abomination whose seed spawns from Satan. Sin will not stop poisoning new generations until they lie stinking in the grave.

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"Vatican officials finally grasped the pressure-cooker media environment the American bishops had been dealing with, and at least some reporters got a window into what the American bishops were up against."

I like it when God's enemies underestimates the power of Rome and the Holy Spirit. I don't think that American bishops are enemies of God, but much of the MSM is an enemy of Christ's Bride. Am I the only one who's received a "cold water in the face" reality wake up call? Sometimes I need a speech or occasion that reminds me that "I" don't matter. It's similar to the Queen of England pretending not to know some famous entertainer's name when they meet for their knighting.

"Your majesty, this is Mr. Elton John."

"Hello. And what is it you do, Mr. John?"

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"Pope John Paul II defined Asia as the great missionary horizon of the church in the 21st century"

If China takes center stage for world powers, it's because she becomes Catholic. No other religion would forgive Beijing's horrific Communism the way the Sacrament of Reconciliation will. Other cultures and religions rejoice in revenge and the world's justice the way a little kid oogles over a 1970s disaster flick. Protestants don't have such a Sacrament. Islamics don't believe in it, and I don't think that Jews are into adoption-for-convertion on such a scale especially when many Asians love to eat pork. That makes China a double negative for the direct descendants of Abraham. Thus, China will become Catholic the way Romans became the Catholic militant. For the conversion of secular Chinese, they may be lead by an economic tycoon for a warrior rather than a legionary general. The same temptations for heresy will be there (Ayranism, as is the first lie by the Father of Lies...to become like gods).

I read recently that the Vatican had appoved a "Hebrew" rite too? I was astonished, but after some thought understood how some of the Jewish faith could feel alienated from everything about their exsistence after their conversion to Catholocism, their point of reference. I wish I could remember where I ran across this.