Ross Douthat says outrage over restaurant CEO's views on gay marriage shows a fake respect for religious freedom
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat said in a recent column that the reactions
against Chick-fil-A CEO’s stance on “gay marriage” reveal that many people
only maintain a “facade” of respect for religious freedom.
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat said in a recent column that the reactions against the Chick-fil-A CEO’s stance on “gay marriage” reveal that many people only maintain a “facade” of respect for religious freedom.
Douthat suggested in his July 29 column that many people now believe religious beliefs cannot be exercised or expressed “in ways that might make anyone uncomfortable with his or her own sexual choices or identity.”
St. James Church in the tiny village of Medjugorje, completed in 1969, was considered to be far larger than any foreseeable need, but times and need have changed. There are many Masses each day, but the Croatian Mass is still outside. Special to The B.C. Catholic.
Father David Bellusci, OP, shares his experience in the city of Medjugorje where Mary appeared to a group of children in 1981:
I was recently a member of a tour group which landed in Split, Croatia, after flying between mountain peaks and along the Adriatic coast. We then made a three-hour trip by road across the Bosnia-Herzegovina border to Medjugorje, "town between the hills."
In 1981 six children said they were seeing the Virgin Mary daily and she was giving them messages to pass on. Some of them still live in the town and some say they are still receiving messages.
The words of my tour guide, Ivan, stayed with me: "You are here because the Virgin Mary has invited you."
Let'sStopthePretense.com is an easy to navigate website with information on Motion 312 and human development
A new pro-life website has been launched called Let'sStopthePretense.com. The site's purpose is to support Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth's Motion 312, which is expected to be voted on by Parliament this fall.
Motion 312 if passed would require a special committee of the House to review "medical evidence, to determine whether or not a child is a human being before birth, and to address the potential impact on Canada's Criminal Code." Currently Canada's laws do not protect a baby until the moment of complete birth. This definition of personhood is one of the reasons Canada has no abortion regulations.
The website also features a section detailing fetal development with links to medical information backing up the website's claims.
Today marked the launch of a major Olympic event that you won’t find in the official Games brochure, 24-hour Eucharistic adoration.
“We’re flying the flag for Christ if you like,” said Franciscan Father Francis Conway of St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Stratford, the Catholic Church closest to the Olympic village in London’s East End.
“We will have Eucharistic adoration from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., when another East End parish will take over from 6 p.m. till late, and then a third parish will continue through the night until we take over again at 9 a.m.,” Father Conway explained.
Thousands attended the Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Mission, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010 hosted by St. Joseph's Parish. BCC file photo.
Holy sites are not just reserved for Fatima and Lourdes. Holy sites also exist within the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Mark Merlino explains in this B.C. Catholic story:
Many pilgrims continue to follow the ancient tradition of visiting the Holy Land, the land of Biblical events and the ancient promised land, now home to great shrines at the places of Christ's birth, ministry, passion, and resurrection.
Countless others stream to the city of Rome, the resting place of the apostles Peter and Paul, to visit the Holy Father and to see the finest examples of sacred art in existence.
Living in a land where the Church is quite young, we might be tempted to think that sacred places are elsewhere, far from here, but it really isn't so. In fact, there are many sacred places right here in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, our own back yard.
Rahm Emanuel supports alderman's plan to ban pro-family owned business from operating in city
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
So General Mills, Google, Kraft, and countless of other corporate entities are allowed to as an organization stand for gay marriage. But if an owner of a company speaks about his own beliefs contrary to the pro-gay marriage stand that company is not allowed to operate in Chicago.
This is the problem the fast food chain Chick-Fil-A faces as a Chicago alderman is refusing to allow a new franchise to open in his area. Oh and that alderman is backed up by his mayor and former Barack Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.
According to LifeSiteNews Emanuel said Chick-Fil-A's values "are not Chicago values:"
Rahm Emanuel told the Chicago Tribune Wednesday that he agreed with Alderman Proco “Joe” Moreno’s effort to stop Chick-fil-A from opening a new restaurant in his area of the city based on president Dan Cathy’s “bigoted, homophobic” views. Cathy, who is famously outspoken in his Christian beliefs, had said last week that he was “guilty as charged” for supporting traditional marriage, saying that redefining the institution meant “inviting God’s judgment on our nation.”
“Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values,” Emanuel told the Tribune. “They disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents. This would be a bad investment, since it would be empty.”
One Million Moms campaign urges removal of anti-family show
The always normal family is one father, one mother, and their children.
This Catholic News Agency story tells of a group of concerned mothers across the U.S.A. who are protesting an upcoming television show that depicts homosexuality and surrogate childbearing as "the new normal family":
"NBC's 'The New Normal' is attempting to desensitize America and our children," said the pro-family organization, One Million Moms. "It is the opposite of how families are designed and created. You cannot recreate the biological wheel."
The group, which is a ministry of the American Family Association, is protesting the upcoming show, "The New Normal," which is set to air in September on the Comcast-owned network, NBC.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul sells blasts from the past including chesterfields, chairs, clothes
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul thrift store located at 2743 Main St. Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic.
Alistair Burns recently attended the annual Society of St. Vincent de Paul barbecue, and while there he learned about the lay organization's thrift story:
Where can you buy three romantic comedy DVDs for Mom, the volume of the letter "S" of the Encyclopedia Britannica for Dad, and a CD featuring your favourite '80s band, all for $10? Welcome to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) thrift stores, one of the best shopping bargains in the Lower Mainland.
"The money that we make from selling items at the thrift stores goes to help our other works," said Sheila Coutu, director of store operations. "Last year we gave out over 3,000 bags of food at the Main Street store, and we send a truck to Main and Hastings three times a week with sandwiches and coffee."
The SSVP thrift stores are located at 2743 Main St. (at 12th Ave.) and 1738 E. Hastings St. (near Commercial Dr.) Both locations are open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
An American exorcist-in-training shares his his experience with exorcisms anonymously so that he will not be deluged with inquiries. www.sxc.hu.
Have you ever wanted to know what makes an exorcist tick? Well, you can, by reading thisCatholic News Agencystory:
“I never thought I’d end up doing this, no,” admits the young priest. His unexpected path to becoming an exorcist began while saying one of his first Masses after he was ordained 15 years ago.
“At the moment of consecration of the Precious Blood I asked the Lord to shower His Blood upon the youth and to help any young men who may have a vocation to the priesthood.”
The instant reaction of one 13-year-old boy shocked the young priest. “He fell backwards and started growling, and I thought, ‘I wasn’t expecting this!’”
Father Joe LeClair of Ottawa charged fraud, theft, and breach of trust
Father Joe LeClair.
The B.C. Catholic has Deborah Gyapong's report that Father Joe LeClair's first court appearance for allegedly ripping off his parish will be moved to September:
Father LeClair, 55, who admitted last year to a gambling addiction and had previously publicly discussed his battle with depression, did not come to court when Lawyer Kim Hyslop, acting for Father LeClair’s defence counsel Matthew Webber, asked the court for more time for evidence disclosure.
“This is a complex matter and we anticipate there being lengthy disclosure,” Hyslop said.
About 10 apparent supporters of the popular priest were in the courtroom when his name was read and Hyslop rose to speak. They filed out en masse when the new date was set.
Father Martin Ochaya explains 'Church is the only institution people can rely on'
Clara Kriswanto listens to Father Martin Ochaya from the Archdiocese of Juba, South Sudan, talk about the critical situation in his homeland. Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic.
Alistair Burns's latest story is about Father Martin Ochaya, a priest from the country of South Sudan. He shared with Burns the struggles of his homeland and how the Church is giving hope to the area:
Many peoples of the world, including in South Sudan, Africa, first encounter the Church as a provider of daily food, and then as a provider of spiritual salvation.
"The Church was, and is, doing a lot. During (recent) civil wars the Church was the only hope for the people," said Father Martin Ochaya of the Archdiocese of Juba, South Sudan's capital.
At the invitation of Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, Father Ochaya, who is spending time replacing vacationing priests, is also spreading awareness of the critical situation in his homeland.
Linda Gibbons acquitted after court finds insufficient evidence
Linda Gibbons, a grandmother, at one of her many arrests, this one in 2008. Sheila Dabu / The Catholic Register.
In my mind Linda Gibbons is synonymous with the word determination. The B.C. Catholic is reporting that the 63-year-old grandmother has been released from prison after yet another arrest for protesting outside an abortion clinic:
Supporters greeted Linda Gibbons outside a Toronto courtroom after judge William R. Wolski of the Ontario Court of Justice ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove Gibbons created a nuisance outside a Morgentaler clinic Dec. 16 in Toronto.
“We (pro-life activists) are there because we want to defend the babies and (we) love and care for women who are wounded by abortion,” Gibbons told LifeSiteNews while enjoying a Tim Horton’s coffee with friends after her release.
Little Flower Academy pilgrims with Analyn Perez (right) helped to welcome Pope (now Blessed) John Paul II to Toronto 10 years ago. "It really felt like the Body of Christ (gathered) around our vicar," said Perez. BCC file photo.
It's been 10 years since Toronto hosted World Youth Day, and Alistair Burns talks to a couple of attendees, one from the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the other the CEO of Salt and Light TV:
In July 2002 the city of Toronto hosted the 17th International World Youth Day. Several hundred thousand youth, including groups from the Archdiocese of Vancouver, went by train, plane, and car. While there they welcomed the elderly Pope John Paul II.
The archdiocese is going to celebrate WYD's 10th anniversary with a Mass, to be celebrated by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, and a barbeque at Good Shepherd Church in Surrey July 28.
Deaf Catholics can evangelize where others cannot go
Carol Stokes, Toronto archdiocese deaf ministries coordinator, and Richard Csabi, national chairman of the Canadian Section of the International Catholic Deaf Association, sign "I love you." Deborah Gyapong / CCN.
The B.C. Catholic has a story by Deborah Gyapong, who recently attended a conference of deaf Catholics:
The Church needs deaf Catholics and their gifts, for they can reach people that only they can reach to pass on the Gospel.
That’s the message Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, SJ, gave delegates at the 11th National Conference of the Canadian Section of the International Catholic Deaf Association (ICDA) in Ottawa July 9-14. He gave his message at a special Mass where most of the participants responded in sign language and hymns were sung with hands.
According to ICDA Canadian Section’s general chairman Richard Csabi, deaf Catholics have built a loving fellowship that is poised to reach out to deaf Canadians who have either fallen away from the Catholic Church or who have never heard the Gospel.
Boy Scouts lauded for continuing ban on openly gay members
This story by Catholic News Agency shows the Scouts maintaining what is a difficult line to hold these days. In this they are being supported by the Family Research Council.
The Boy Scouts of America has drawn praise for upholding a policy of prohibiting openly homosexual leaders and members, in order to align with its founding principles and respect the role of parents in educating their own children.
"The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers, and at the appropriate time and in the right setting," said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive.
Two Christian groups urge government to address confusion left by Supreme Court decision
Don Hutchinson, president and legal counsel of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, addresses journalists after the Supreme Court of Canada struck down portions of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act in Dec. 2010. Deborah Gyapong / CCN.
The B.C. Catholic has an article by CCN's Deborah Gyapong about concerns raised by two Christian groups over the 2010 Supreme Court of Canada decision on the Assisted Human Reproduction Act:
“Areas of research that raise deep and significant ethical issues, including human embryonic research and the creation of animal-human hybrids, were to be regulated activities,” wrote EFC Vice President and Legal Counsel Don Hutchinson in a July 16 letter to Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.
“The Court has created confusion, and a virtual open season now exists in regard to certain aspects of human-animal genome experimentation and embryo importing, exporting, research, and destruction as a result of the decision deeming sections 10 and 11 of the Act, along with much of section 40, unconstitutional,” he said.
The real reason for the CTV investigation stemmed from the same undercover employee filming a volunteer counsellor at the Surrey centre who went "off script" and gave abortion information that was accurate but rare in Canada.
Pastors of Aurora churches comfort, encourage parishioners
Aurora cinema shooting suspect James Holmes.
This Catholic News Agency story tells something of the aftermath of the Aurora cinema shooting.
Father Terry Kissell, the pastor of Aurora's St. Michael the Archangel Parish, reassured parishioners of the hope they can find in Christ, even in the darkest times. He was mourning the death of one of their own in a July 20 mass shooting.
Parishioner Alex Sullivan, 27, was one of 12 people killed inside a nearby movie theatre very early Friday morning during the midnight premiere of the newest Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises." The shooter was believed to be 24-year-old James Holmes.
Sullivan was confirmed as an adult last year at St. Michael's. He would have celebrated his first wedding anniversary July 22.
The U.S. bishops have praised the inclusion of new legislative provisions that, if passed, could prevent financial penalties from being levied against institutions that don't comply with the controversial HHS mandate that requires coverage for sterilization and contraception, including abortion-causing drugs.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston on July 18 thanked the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor/HHS action that added two provisions to the annual appropriations bill.
Google faces criticism over global push for gay advocacy
Poland's Senate building.
This Catholic News Agency story about Google's push for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships in countries like Poland has drawn the ire of critics, who suggest the company should, rather, be addressing basic human rights violations elsewhere.
"I am afraid that Google can't distinguish between discrimination, tolerance and promotion," Father Maciej Zieba, the director of Krakow's Tertio Millennio Institute, told CNA July 17.
On July 7 in London, Google executive Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe told the Global LGBT Workplace Summit that Google's Legalize Love Campaign will develop initiatives around the world as part of "a very ambitious piece of work."
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