Free Republic

The New Abolitionism Deacon Keith Fournier © Third Millennium, LLC Introduction It had been a long day. I was driving home to Chesapeake from Richmond, Virginia, “dog tired” as they say. My day had begun in Washington D.C., completing my week’s coursework at Catholic University. The morning class was followed by an important luncheon meeting. That was followed by travel to Richmond for a Latin class. That was followed by the privilege of serving as the Deacon and homilist at Mass at St. Benedict’s, my favorite parish in the Diocese of Richmond. I had at least two hours left to...

Time For a New Movement By Deacon Keith Fournier © Third Millennium, LLC David Broder recently wrote an interesting column entitled “Among Conservative Scholars, a necessary debate”. It is one of several efforts I have seen which assess the current “conservative” reaction to the changed political landscape in a post -Hurricane Katrina America. He refers within the piece to a larger article in the “Weekly Standard”, a predominantly “neo-conservative” periodical, which, for its tenth anniversary, invited its regular contributors to opine on “what issue” they had changed their mind on in the last ten years. According to Broder, this inquiry...

The Rain in Spain By Deacon Keith Fournier © Third Millennium, LLC I awakened to the news of the unraveling of one of the final vestiges of Christian influence in the public order of Spain, the decision to end the recognition of marriage through a legislative redefinition of the word. This was not accomplished by the will of the people but by an act of a legislature that has lost its way. The number of Nations falling to this delusion continues to increase. It seems that more and more governmental officials throughout the western world have begun to see themselves...

The Ten Possibilities Deacon Keith Fournier © Third Millennium, LLC Catholic Online The U.S. Supreme Court handed down its two opinions in the long awaited “Ten Commandment cases” this day, June 27, 2005. In 5-4 decisions, the Court sent another uncertain and convoluted message in its ping pong game of establishment clause jurisprudence. It also positioned itself as the arbiter of what is “acceptable” in a Nation that is reeling under a growing judicial oligarchy. The Justices (at least five of them) upheld a display of the Ten Commandments on public land (I use the phrase instead of so called...

Freedom is as Freedom Does Deacon Keith A. Fournier © Third Millennium, LLC The great struggle of this hour is being waged - knowingly or unknowingly- over freedom. It is a contest with extraordinary implications. Almost every contemporary concern that we face as Christians can be positioned within this struggle. As Christians, freedom has a specific meaning and it must be viewed within that context. It is a lens through which we are invited by our faith (when fully and properly expounded upon) to view both how we live our lives and how we engage in our mission to this...

The Grain of Wheat: R.I.P. Pope John Paul II By Deacon Keith Fournier © Third Millennium, LLC “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” John 12: 21-24 Like multiple millions throughout the...

The Prophetic Pope Comes Home By Rev. Mr. Keith Fournier Deacon and Founder © Third Millennium, LLC One could almost hear an audible universal sigh of relief this past week, being breathed across the entire globe. “Thank God,” we cried inside, “he is home.” Millions paused to express their gratitude to God. Pope John Paul came home from the hospital. It seemed particularly significant to me that this last appointment with sickness and suffering involved intense difficulty with breathing. This Pope has repeatedly called, with great prophetic urgency, for the “two lungs” of the Church, East and West, to breathe...