It’s been awhile! I have been thinking about the blog but, due to my admitted laziness, I haven’t written anything in awhile. However, yesterday something happened and I feel compelled to write about it.

I was with some friends and we somehow got onto the subject of the church where I attend Mass. One of my friends, who is a member of the same parish, chimed in “Yeah, I like it there.” To which someone replied “You like it there?” This person then implied that our church is too traditional and boring. It should be noted that this group that I was with was composed of young people. Therefore, it would be somewhat understandable that this person might be lacking a complete understanding of the Mass and might find it slightly boring. However, it was what this person said next that disturbed me most.

After poking a bit of fun at our traditional parish, this person mentioned that they found a different parish which they preferred. I expected the new parish to be a local and very modern parish. I had to stifle a gasp when I learned that it wasn’t even Catholic. I did am online search to learn some more info. I learned that this person’s “new church” was one of those happy, clappy, non denominational types. It had a nice stage up at front with a variety of musical instruments. So, I started wondering.

Are we so into entertaining ourselves that we are willing to abandon Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist for a bit of music and “feel good” talk? Have we forgotten the Holy Sacrifice which was instituted at the Last Supper? Without this Sacrifice, which this person’s “new church” does not have, our worship is reduced to nothing more than some music and a bunch of people gathered with some vague idea of their purpose. Gone is that Most Holy Sacrifice which was instituted at the Last Supper and occured on the cross.

So, it is fairly obvious that some people have no idea about why they go to church. Let us always remeber what we have and pray for those who have lost sight of it.

I would like to take a minute to remember a great modern religious thinker who passed away today. Fr. Richard John Neuhaus died this morning due to cancer. He will be sorely missed by all. Although I had only recently begun reading his works and First Things, the magazine which he was founder and editor in chief of, I feel a great personal sadness due to his loss. Let us keep this great man in our prayers.

After the election of Barack Obama, I was deeply disappointed that America had chosen a man with perverse moral values to lead our country. However, I am happy to see that he has picked a man with sound moral beliefs to deliver his inaugural invocation in January. Read the entire article here.

His choice of Rick Warren is slightly comforting, although it does not detract from the fact that he intends to authorize acts which are morally wrong. His choice is, perhaps, a hollow attempt to appease conservative members of society. It seems unlikely that much good will come out of it, and he will still authorize such atrocious acts as abortion.

I almost laughed out loud when I read that Kathryn Kolbert, President of People for the American Way, told CNN that President-elect Obama should have chosen someone with “consistent mainstream American values.” Years ago, “mainstream American values” included the owning of blacks as slaves. I wonder if Ms. Kolbert would have been in favor of these “mainstream values.” She seems rather concerned with accepting whatever values may be in place at whatever time. What we should be concerned with is correcting our values so that those values are just and true. What good is there in protecting that which is flawed?

As much as I am dissatisfied with our choice of president, I believe that we should not disillusioned. We must intercede for our future president that he may be lead to see the truth and help to make America a better and more loving place to live.

The endorsement of the Freedom of Choice act by President-elect Barack Obama could certainly have some major devastating effects, as reported by U.S. News and World Report. Read the full article here.

The fact that our future president, a man who we call upon to lead us in a morally correct way, supports atrocities such as abortion is a very sad thing. It is even more disturbing that the Freedom of Choice act would force may hospitals to offer abortions, which would terminate the lives of many innocent American children. Furthermore, the act would also force government health insurance agencies to provide funding for these terminations. We will be facing a difficult time in terms of abortion, especially considering the new leader that our country has elected. We must intercede more than ever for the unborn because they should not be allowed to suffer for this sins of others.

I took immediate note of the following sentence: “This legislation declares that a woman “has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.” The word “viability” is defined as ” having attained such form and development as to be normally capable of surviving outside the mother’s womb” by the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (http://www.webster.com.) I was recently in the company of a monsignor who was debating the subject of abortion with an ill-informed person. The monsignor said “I once baptized a 3 month old baby in the hospital. He was born prematurely. That boy now serves mass with me. So, where do we draw the line?” Where do we draw the line? We should draw the line at contraception, the time when sperm meets egg and creates a life. Unfortunately, there are many people who believe that size and time are everything. We can quibble over days, months, and weeks, but at the core of the issue is the undeniable fact that a life is created at the time of conception. It is unfortunate that, through the use of logically flawed arguments which are centered around trimesters, people will try to detract from the fact that a human life is created at conception.

The second point in the article which stood out was a quote from the co-president of the National Women’s Law Center,Marcia Greenberger, who said “The act would simply ensure that Roe v. Wade protections remain in place.” Well, if this is the case, then why stop at women? Why not let everyone “personally” decide if a life is worth preserving? The idea that is “protected” in Roe v. Wade is the idea that one human being should have the right to decide if another human being should live. This is a truly hideous concept. There is nothing to “protect” here. No one has the right to make that choice.

In closing, I would just like to encourage everyone to pray for our future president and the unborn. Also pray for women who are contemplating an abortion. We must pray that the grace of God leads them to recognize the truth and helps them to make the right decision. Let us also pray for all who have chosen to have an abortion. May our Merciful Father forgive them and help them to heal. We are going to experience a trying time in our battle to protect the sanctity of life. May God help us and everyone involved.

In his article entitled “Moving forward together,” San Francisco Archbishop George H. Niederauer seeks to replace hatred with logic and disrespect with amicable understanding. His article, while dealing with the aftermath of Proposition 8, also offers a commentary on some issues which we must all keep in mind, especially in current times.

In the article, Archbishop Niederauer asserts that “We need to stop hurling names like “bigot” and “pervert” at each other. And we need to stop it now.” He is absolutely right. However, contrary to what some may believe, my comments on this are not related to how the gay community views Christians. They are targeted at how Christians view the gay community. Now, don’t misunderstand me. The gay community has to stop blissfully following the delusion that Christians are trying to destroy their freedom of expression and infringe upon their civil rights. This is not true. However, as said in the article, “Tolerance, respect, and trust are always two-way streets.” On many occasions, Christians fail to treat their brothers and sisters in the gay community with ample respect. The Catholic Church believes that homosexuals should be treated with respect and care. They are entitled to the same basic human rights as you and me. However, in a fervor of ardent emotions, many Christians give themselves a bad name. Through their vacuous actions, they destroy the cause which they are so determined to advocate. How do they do this? By using emotion instead of logic in their attempt to communicate with the gay community.

So, let us take a quick look at some methods which do not work for those who seek to communicate with the gay community. Here are two that instantly come to mind.

Perhaps if people tried to engage in productive, intelligence, and mutually respectful dialogue with the gay community, we would see more progress, less confusion, and a reduced amount of hate. The frustrating aspect to this situation is that there are probably many Christian intellectuals who would like to engage in such dialogue with the gay community. However, their efforts are stifled by the aforementioned ignoramuses and their misguided efforts to yell, scream, and hold up signs. In this aspect, we must implore the Christian community and the gay community to be more understanding. We are all God’s children created in his image.

The other idea expressed in the Archbishop’s article which I believe is of great importance is that we can not divorce our faith from the public square. If we honestly believe that our faith is the Truth, than to exclude it from the public square would be to lie to our fellow citizens. Rather, our public square life and our life of faith to God should be harmonious. We should work to promote the Truth in the public square, not to avoid it.

I thank San Francisco Archbishop George H. Niederauer for his article. It contains logical and valuable advice that both sides of the Proposition 8 argument would do well to heed. Let us remember that we must be respectful to our neighbors who are created in the image of God while we pray for the conversion of sinners.

A large gathering of Catholics presented themselves in Texas to pray for the protection of human dignity. They congregated in the spirit of prayer, armed with no signs, t-shirts, or chants. They merely came to pray for an end to the “culture of death” and the unfortunate destruction of life at all levels. Their story is one that could teach all of us a good lesson.

We currently reside in a time where publicity is everything. News can travel faster and faster with the invention of newer and better technology. However, this technological age can sometimes lead us to forget what is truly important. We must always remember that we can not bring an end to atrocities by human strength alone. We must always toil in the spirit of God and supplement our labor with periods of prayer, our most powerful tool in the fight against those who seek to destroy human life. In this regard, we could all stand to learn something from the 800 Catholics who gathered in Texas. Like them, we should always labor in the spirit of prayer.

This even also serves as a reminder to everyone of the importance of human dignity and life. This is an issue that many seem to have forgotten recently. Americans elected a man to presidential office who believes that people should choose who gets to live and who gets to die. We must remember that this is not a “woman’s choice” as many, lead astray by faulty logic and propaganda, have been lead to assert. It is not the choice of a woman, nor a man, nor a child, nor a parent, nor a government. Within every single person lives Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. So I pose this question to everyone who is in favor of abortion: could you look Jesus Christ, your Savior, in the eyes and tell him that it is your choice to kill him so that you may not suffer? I could not.

The issue of capital punishment is also an important issue which is sometimes disregarded. Those who are criminals may indeed have committed the crime which they have been accused. Perhaps they did not. However, all of this talk of guilty or not guilty is irrelevant. I am reminded very clearly of a scene from the play, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry. In the scene, Beneatha tells Mama, her mother, that there is nothing left to love in her brother, Walter. Mama responds: “There is always something left to love.” The same is true of capital punishment. Irrespective of how corrupt the character of the accused has become, he was still made in the image of God. This is an image which grands indelible dignity, a dignity which no human has the permission to revoke.

In closing, I wish to implore that everyone toil and pray for the end of the destruction of life and human dignity. Only through our constant efforts and prayers can we ever hope to put an end to the destruction of life which some erroneously believe to be a “matter of choice.”

Food pantries everywhere are going to be in for a rough winter with today’s economic crisis sapping funds from everyone. The worst is truly yet to come and people of all social classes will be faced with the harsh realities of increasing expenses. Realities that will be taxing for charitable organizations everywhere as they strive to fulfill the needs of the hungry. Although modern times will be challenging, they should also serve as a time of fortification in the love and salvation that is to be found in Jesus Christ.

It is truly unfortunate that the greed of some results in the suffering of many. It has repeatedly been asserted by all great men that world hunger should be a non-issue. The poor should have no fears of going hungry or losing their homes. When we have more than enough to provide for everyone, we must wonder why so few starve. This is a question which is answered by a brief glimpse at the greed which permeates society, a greed which increases prices during a time when jobs are being lost and wages are being lowered. Those who were previously living from paycheck to paycheck now find themselves in deeper turmoil as the global economy is reduced to shambles and news of difficulty is to be learned of in every newspaper and on everyone television station. It is indeed a trying time, especially when we are on the verge of winter. But trying times also have the potential to be times of great benevolence, and we must all strive to fulfill God’s call during this difficult time.

As many of our neighbors are suffering great challenges, we are called to help them in any way that we can. One of the best ways for individuals to help is through charitable activities. Those who have some extra money or food can assist by donating to local food pantries or shelters. Those who do not have extra to give can help by simply working at a homeless shelter or food pantry in their spare time. Even if one can only afford to donate a few hours per week, it would be greatly helpful. We are all members of the same human community and we must always strive, especially during times of great difficulty, to treat each other as we would like to be treated.

European bishops recently asserted that that “a distorted hierarchy of values” are one of the leading causes behind the global financial crisis. Read the full article here

The article certainly seems to be true, although few who have profited would be willing to admit it. It indeed appears that at the heart of financial breakdowns is greed. A greed to have far more than one needs, an unwillingness to allot some of this wealth to one’s neighbor, and an economic infrastructure which thrives on the acquisition of wealth through the impoverishment of others.

Now, I do not wish for my statements to be taken out of context. There is nothing wrong with having some money and nice possessions. However, it seems that our sense of “want” and “need” has been very perverted. We want a new television, we need food. We don’t need a new television. It is a desire. There is nothing wrong with having and satisfying these desires, assuming that we do so in a morally acceptable way. However, we must remember that it is only a desire, not a need. We can not allow others to suffer because of our desire. If our neighbor can not afford food and we do not offer him money because we want a new TV, then we have a problem. We must align our priorities so that we are not overcome by earthly wishes and all of our energies are devoted to fulfilling them. This strong sense of entitlement is at the root of our global financial crisis. Like a young boy who works hard because he wants a new bike, we would also be better off if we did not feel entitled. If you want a new TV, then work for it until you have the money. Don’t buy it on credit and plan to pay it off. You will appreciate your acquisition all the more because it was bought with your hard work. You have earned it.

There is something wrong when we must step on others to acquire earthly wealth. Those who are truly successful are those who have earned their wealth, not acquired it through dishonest methods. These men are those who are actually respected, not feared, by their subordinates. They treat fellow humans, from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high, with equal respect and devotion. In the long run, they retain their wealth because they have garnered loyal employees and friends, not men who cling to them out of fear and desperation.

We are also faced with the problem that, many times, the procurement of material wealth involves the forfeit of spiritual wealth. Far from being divorced, material wealth and spiritual wealth should be in harmony. We should use our material wealth to enhance our spiritual wealth. Time should always be devoted to prayer and reflection, performing charitable acts, and participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. A man of true wealth should never have to say that “I do not have time to attend Mass.” If this is true, they have allowed their pursuit of material possessions to dominate their lives. This is a very dangerous thing to do.

The global financial crisis was a preventable incident. One can quibble about matters such as government interference, but the situation is far more simple. It comes down to how we, as a human race, treat each other. Government interference matters little if the men in government and business are corrupt and refuse to protect the dignity and well-being of their fellow humans because they are far too entangled in their own pursuit of what they call “wealth.” Perhaps if we, as a single and unified human people, worked to protect the basic and inalienable rights granted to each and every person, we would find that every aspect of our lives, from economic to political, would be more orderly and just.

To those who still visit this blog: I am sorry that I have not posted faithfully. To any new visitors: welcome! Welcome to the new and improved Hazardous Words Blog. After starting this blog over 2 years ago and posting infrequently on it, I would like to actually dedicate time to it. I am hoping to post far more frequently, but my posts will be more concise commentaries on news articles and the like. I am hoping to pull a lot of information from the Catholic News Service and comment often on it. I am also hoping to pull information from any major news networks and give my opinion of current events. Hopefully, with the help of my readers, I can actually get this off the ground!