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The Sins That Come From Being a Busybody – A Meditation on a Teaching of St. Gregory By: Msgr. Charles PopeFaults in others I can see, but praise the Lord there’re none in me!The term “busybody” usually refers to one who is intent on the matters of others but looks little to his own issues. Busybodies also tend to focus especially on the faults, foibles, and troubles of other folks. Seldom are they chattering away about good news related to other people; more often it is the scurrilous and scandalous that occupy their minds.Merriam-Webster online defines a busybody as  “a person who...

The Holy Father spoke of the healing available in the sacrament of reconciliation at his Feb. 19 audience: 'Forgiveness is not a result of our efforts, but is a gift. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who showers us with mercy and grace that pours forth unceasingly from the open heart of Christ, crucified and risen.'VATICAN CITY -- During his Wednesday audience on Feb. 19, Pope Francis encouraged the pilgrims filling St. Peter's Square to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. "Everyone say to himself: ‘When was the last time I went to confession?’ And if it has been...

What is it that really holds us in bondage? What is it that is truly the source of our problem, our sins, our selfishness, our anger, our lust and pride? Original Sin? Yes but where does the wound of sin really set up shop in us and stay open for business? What does it tap into for its strength? Scripture has an interesting answer to this question: Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free...

One of the greatest gifts of the Human person is the capacity to speak. It is also one of our greatest weaknesses. The Book of James says,We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect!, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and thus we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever...

Readings: • 2 Sam. 12:7-10, 13 • Psa. 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 • Gal. 2:16, 19-21 • Lk 7:36—8:3 or 7:36-50 “A Catholic may sin and sin as badly as anyone else,” wrote Archbishop Fulton Sheen, “but no genuine Catholic ever denies he is a sinner. A Catholic wants his sins forgiven—not excused or sublimated.” One of Sheen’s heroes, G. K. Chesterton, put it very directly when asked why he became Catholic: “To get my sins forgiven.” Man’s need for forgiveness of sins is an essential tenet of Christianity that is sometimes pushed to the side, as though it might...

This video offers a meditation on the various wounds of sin which plague humanity, wounds that were borne by Jesus on the Cross. The meditation begins with the denial of God by eliminating prayer and then progresses through wounds such as divorce, pornography and abortion to arrive at cold indifference. The drama of Christ's Passion shows how Divine Mercy can transform these wounds into life and holiness providing we turn back to God in prayer. The video serves as an excellent Lenten Meditation on the Way of the Cross and on the Christian meaning of human suffering.

Swinging Chicken Ritual Divides Orthodox Jewsby BARBARA BRADLEY HAGERTY September 26, 2009 Rabbi Shea Hecht in Brooklyn, N.Y., demonstrates how Orthodox Jews wave a chicken three times over their heads and say the prayer of Kapparot (or Kapparos, depending on heritage) in the days leading up to Yom Kippur.Rabbi Shea Hecht plucks a chicken off a truck parked behind a synagogue in Queens, N.Y., and demonstrates how to swing a chicken. "You take it by the wing," says the white-haired Hecht, careful not to get the chicken's feathers or anything else on his black suit and tall black hat. "You...

Is your name on the list? This just in: If you're an obscenely wealthy drug-dealing pedophile stem-cell researcher who drives a Hummer and doesn't recycle, you are totally going to hell. Oh please, like you didn't already know. Hey, the Catholic Church wouldn't lie, mister. The Big Book o' Deadly Sins apparently has a whole new addendum and it looks like it ain't just gluttony and lust and murder and hot porn and witchcraft and coveting thy neighbor's way cool Flickr photo stream anymore. That stuff is for wimps. Serfs. Lutherans. The Vatican is trying to get serious. Modern. Hip,...

The Virtue-Driven Life by Mark Lowery, Ph.D. I heard someone refer to the "cardinal virtues." I know what a virtue is — a good habit — but I need some help with the word "cardinal." There are four cardinal moral virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. They are called "cardinal" from the Latin word for "hinge," (cardo, cardinis) since the whole life of natural virtue pivots on these four key virtues. Think of these as "grooves" in your life that keep you headed toward your final destiny. Every particular virtue — patience, magnanimity, gratitude, trust — belongs to one of...

 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCHSECOND EDITION PART THREELIFE IN CHRIST SECTION ONEMAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT CHAPTER ONETHE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON ARTICLE 7THE VIRTUES "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."62A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory...

A supposed list of "new sins" from the Vatican, such as pollution and genetic manipulation, made headlines across the world on Monday. The list actually didn’t come from any official Catholic Church document, but from an interview of a bishop that was published in L'Osservatore Romano, the "semi-official" newspaper in Vatican City, and it exposed the mainstream media’s fundamental misunderstanding of Christianity in general, and the Catholic Church specifically. L'Osservatore Romano printed the interview of Gianfranco Girotti, a bishop who is a member of the Vatican’s Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, in its March 9 edition. In it, Girotti...

As a practicing Catholic, I try to keep up with the latest from the Home Office in the Vatican, but more often than not, I find myself wondering if they know not what they do. For instance, today we hear from officials that they have added to the list of sins Catholics must consider, including “ecological sins”. In the same breath but without a hint of irony, the same officials bemoan the decreasing participation in the rite of reconciliation, or what used to be called confession: Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring...

The beloved founder of Human Life International, Fr. Paul Marx, was not known to mince words when it came to what he called the "conspiracy of silence" from the pulpits of our Church on the issue of contraception, but his insights of twenty and thirty years ago were right on target and remain true to this day: "Future generations," he said, "will wonder why so many Catholic bishops and priests in the West didn't see contraception as a seminal evil and the chief cause of the Church's swift decline." There is the core issue. Priestly silence about contraception is deadly...

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland will play host to the world's biggest ever strip poker contest if bookmaker Paddy Power gets its way. The idea was originally floated as an April Fool's joke but generated so much interest that Dublin-based Paddy Power has decided to look seriously at organising a contest it hopes will find a place in the Guinness Book of Records. "We got almost 100 requests to take part," the company's spokesman, also called Paddy Power, said. "We're trying to investigate whether it's possible or whether we'll get put in prison for it." Poker has become big business in...

It is a rare person who has not heard of the recent cruel homicide of the Florida woman, Terri Schiavo. Everyone, it seemed, had a strong opinion on the subject. Yet, despite clear moral teachings on the evils of euthanasia, there are ‘Catholics’ who boast support for euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide.[1] Are these ‘Catholics’ badly formed and ignorant of their Church’s infallible teachings on the dignity and sacredness of all human life? Is it the fault of Catholic clergy for not preaching the Church’s teachings from the pulpit? In view of the clarity and frequency of the Church’s up-to-date teachings,...

Examination of Conscience Here is a helpful examination of conscience, based on the Ten Commandments. Perform a brief examination every night, but go through a more thorough examination before confessing your sins to the priest. DIRECTIONSThe Commandments of God Have I doubted in matters of faith? murmured against God because of adversity? despaired of His mercy? Have I believed in or consulted fortune tellers? Have I taken part in non-Catholic worship? Have I recommended myself regularly to God? Neglected my morning or evening prayers? Omitted my religious obligations because of human respect? Presumed upon God's mercy in committing sin?...

MUMBAI: Christians in India will step up protests against the screening of "Sins", a Bollywood film that shows a Catholic priest in a cassock and cross having sex with a woman half his age, a religious group said on Friday. The film prompted an attack this week by protestors on a theatre in Bombay, India's film capital and home to a large Catholic community. A further protest is planned on Saturday. Christians object to the scene mixing sex with the cross, their main religious symbol."We want the objectionable scenes in the film to be deleted or the movie be completely...

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives. Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?" And Man said, Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it, add some sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled. And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that...

Hello Ali Sina! Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Fatik. At present I’m no longer a Muslim but a year ago I was a very fervent Muslim. I turned from a passionate Muslim into a passionate apostate. I think you have predicted something like this. I’m not sure about your feelings towards Muslims, but I hope you don’t hate them. Most Muslims are not as violent as Mullahs from Iran . Believe me the majority of Muslims only name themselves Muslims but as a matter of fact they are not. Maybe you will say that I am a...

Kerry's speech tells half of story By Jerry Zremski News Washington correspondent Jerry Zremski analyzes and fact-checks what was said during Thursday's prime-time television coverage of the Democratic National Convention. By CONVENTION WATCH 7/31/2004 WASHINGTON - In accepting the Democratic nomination for president, Sen. John F. Kerry was eloquent, passionate and presidential - and guilty of grave sins of omission. He didn't explain his position on Iraq. He vowed to cut the deficit without explaining how. And Kerry's 5,310-word speech included only 73 words about his 19-year Senate career. That's what pundits noted Friday when asked to square Kerry's speech...