Thursday, January 28, 2010
And nobody putteth a piece of raw cloth unto an old garment. For it taketh away the fullness thereof from the garment, and there is made a greater rent. (Matthew 9:16)
How carefully the Lord weaves himself into our souls; for he knows us completely and what is profitable for our salvation, and he is concerned not to destroy what is distinctive within us.
How carefully the Lord weaves himself into our souls; for he knows us completely and what is profitable for our salvation, and he is concerned not to destroy what is distinctive within us.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
A New Decade for an Aging World
World Population Going From Boom to Bust
By Father John Flynn, LC
ROME, JAN. 24, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The United Nations has just published a report drawing attention to the problems being created due to a rapidly aging world population. Just after the start of the New Year the Department of Economic and Social Affairs published its "World Population Aging 2009" report.
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-- Aging is affecting nearly all the countries of the world, due to reductions in fertility that have become almost universal.
-- Aging will have a major impact on economic growth, savings, investment, labor markets, and taxation.
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Other recent U.N. reports have examined more in depth demographic problems in individual countries. A study by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), titled "Russia Facing Demographic Challenges," predicted the population will continue to shrink, the Associated Press reported Oct. 4.
According to the UNDP Russia's population has fallen by 6.6 million since 1993, despite the influx of millions of immigrants. The report warned that by 2025 the country could lose a further 11 million people.
The consequences of such a reduction will be labor shortages, an aging population and slower economic growth, according to the UNDP. In 2007 Russia had the world's ninth-largest population. By 2050, the U.N. estimates, Russia will be at no. 15 in the list, with a population smaller than that of Vietnam.
Russia needs to cut its high abortion rate to help reverse the population decline, warned the countries' Health Minister Tatyana Golikova, reported Agence France Presse, Jan. 18.
Golikova said that in 2008 there were 1.714 million births in Russia and 1.234 million abortions.
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While Vietnam may be set to surpass Russia, there too abortion is causing severe problems, according to a report dated August 2009, published by the United Nations Population Fund.
The Study, "Recent Change in the Sex Ratio at Birth in Vietnam: A Review of Evidence," examined the problem of sex-selective abortions. Normally the sex ratio at birth (defined as the number of boys being born per one hundred girls), is between 104-106/100.
This ratio, the report explained is, under normal circumstances, quite stable over time, across geographical regions, continents, countries and races.
Studies on sex rations have revealed an unexpected change, starting in the 1980's in some Asian countries, the U.N. agency commented. "Along with declining fertility, this trend tends to spread throughout countries with large populations in Asia, thus threatening global demographic stability," the report continued.
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As more and more concerns arise over the world's aging population and falling fertility rates the U.S government is in the midst of dramatically increasing its support for contraception and abortion around the world.
'Sacrilege: Liberation Enters the Church'
The teaching of Carl Rogers had a massive influence on the Catholic Church in the United States, from which it has never recovered.[44] For Rogers the therapist was only a facilitator (a word that still haunts Catholic meetings) who gave unqualified acceptance (unconditional love) to the client. Rogers, an unbeliever who had been formed in a strict but affectionate Protestant home, wanted everyone to explore and accept his deepest desires. Rogers's deepest desires were civilized and humane, but not everyone is like him. Rogers unwisely kept reassuring people that they should have no fear about "calling up and unleashing their hidden desires."[45][46]
Rogers and Coulson set up a massive group therapy program for the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) nuns, who invited them in to help with the period of reflection that the Vatican Council had asked for. Coulson was a good Catholic. When he and Rogers got in touch with their inner selves, they discovered sensitive, enlightened consciences. When their patients were in the presence of Coulson and Rogers they too discovered sensitive consciences that gave good direction. But Coulson and Rogers trained facilitators who, they discovered, were unable to evoke such a conscience. Under these facilitators' direction, the nuns got in touch with their inner selves. What they discovered there was that they did not want to be nuns and they did want (at least some did) to be lesbians. The order disintegrated in a matter of months. Cardinal Manning became alarmed, and attempted to stop the collapse, but he only made it worse. The Jesuits wanted to get in on the act. They consulted Rogers's associate William Coulson and discussed the new concept of the "third way between celibacy and marriage." Coulson asked what they meant. A Jesuit replied, "It means you don't have to marry the girl."
The teaching of Carl Rogers had a massive influence on the Catholic Church in the United States, from which it has never recovered.[44] For Rogers the therapist was only a facilitator (a word that still haunts Catholic meetings) who gave unqualified acceptance (unconditional love) to the client. Rogers, an unbeliever who had been formed in a strict but affectionate Protestant home, wanted everyone to explore and accept his deepest desires. Rogers's deepest desires were civilized and humane, but not everyone is like him. Rogers unwisely kept reassuring people that they should have no fear about "calling up and unleashing their hidden desires."[45][46]
Rogers and Coulson set up a massive group therapy program for the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) nuns, who invited them in to help with the period of reflection that the Vatican Council had asked for. Coulson was a good Catholic. When he and Rogers got in touch with their inner selves, they discovered sensitive, enlightened consciences. When their patients were in the presence of Coulson and Rogers they too discovered sensitive consciences that gave good direction. But Coulson and Rogers trained facilitators who, they discovered, were unable to evoke such a conscience. Under these facilitators' direction, the nuns got in touch with their inner selves. What they discovered there was that they did not want to be nuns and they did want (at least some did) to be lesbians. The order disintegrated in a matter of months. Cardinal Manning became alarmed, and attempted to stop the collapse, but he only made it worse. The Jesuits wanted to get in on the act. They consulted Rogers's associate William Coulson and discussed the new concept of the "third way between celibacy and marriage." Coulson asked what they meant. A Jesuit replied, "It means you don't have to marry the girl."
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Every day I go to random.org and select one verse from Matthew to meditate upon. Today, the day in which His Holiness Benedict XVI visited the Synagogue of Rome, I drew Matthew 10:5:
These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying: Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not.
Hmm, quite a coincidence!
These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying: Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not.
Hmm, quite a coincidence!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18)
Consider St. Joseph this night, before the angel spoke to him in a dream. To his knowledge, he had been humiliated. His betrothed had been unfaithful and had conceived. Imagine how he felt that night before retiring, a deeply dejected man, planning to put away Mary and wondering if he would ever find happiness. Even after, knowing, he still had to rise above his pride to live with the perceptions of others and what they must have thought. Recent evidence shows Nazareth to have been a town of fifty families, and in a town of fifty families people will talk.
There is a message here, in that, at the very beginning of the Gospel, Mary had to will what God willed and Joseph had to overcome his pride. So must we will as He wills and overcome our pride, if we are to follow Christ- if we are to bring him into the world through ourselves, one could say, letting him be born and flourish within us.
Consider St. Joseph this night, before the angel spoke to him in a dream. To his knowledge, he had been humiliated. His betrothed had been unfaithful and had conceived. Imagine how he felt that night before retiring, a deeply dejected man, planning to put away Mary and wondering if he would ever find happiness. Even after, knowing, he still had to rise above his pride to live with the perceptions of others and what they must have thought. Recent evidence shows Nazareth to have been a town of fifty families, and in a town of fifty families people will talk.
There is a message here, in that, at the very beginning of the Gospel, Mary had to will what God willed and Joseph had to overcome his pride. So must we will as He wills and overcome our pride, if we are to follow Christ- if we are to bring him into the world through ourselves, one could say, letting him be born and flourish within us.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done, shall be told for a memory of her. (Matthew 26:13)
The anointing woman is defended by Jesus against the apostles who demand an exclusive focus on the needy; devotion to the Lord is also praiseworthy.
The anointing woman is defended by Jesus against the apostles who demand an exclusive focus on the needy; devotion to the Lord is also praiseworthy.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Friday, January 08, 2010
For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it. (Matthew 19:12)
Continence is a discipline that can help some grow in accordance with the kingdom of heaven, but it is not required for entrance and not all are capable of it. We must not confuse a discipline with the objective we seek to attain. Our goal is the kingdom itself, not continence, continence being a means and not the end.
Continence is a discipline that can help some grow in accordance with the kingdom of heaven, but it is not required for entrance and not all are capable of it. We must not confuse a discipline with the objective we seek to attain. Our goal is the kingdom itself, not continence, continence being a means and not the end.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said: Hail, Rabbi. And he kissed him. (Matthew 26:49)
In betraying our Lord, Judas performed an act of praise and an act of adoration. Praise and devotion are fruitless without the proper tone of mind, one in which God rules in our hearts. We must cultivate inner holiness, for external acts are empty without a holy disposition.
In betraying our Lord, Judas performed an act of praise and an act of adoration. Praise and devotion are fruitless without the proper tone of mind, one in which God rules in our hearts. We must cultivate inner holiness, for external acts are empty without a holy disposition.
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