Amy Welborn’s Husband Dies Suddenly

Many people are familiar with author Amy Welborn and her writings.  Our prayers are with her and her children in the untimely death of her husband Michael Dubruiel who had just turned 50.    –Chris, Ed. H2R

From her blog:
“November 16, 1958-February 3, 2009

Michael collapsed this morning at the gym and was not able to be revived despite the efforts of EMTs and hospital personnel.

We are devastated and beg your prayers.

Many thanks for all of the prayers and notes. It is overwhelming. Many have asked what they can do of a material or concrete nature. All I can say is to simply buy his books. Not from me, because I am in no position to fill orders, but from anywhere else. He long ago promised God that he would give all the royalties of The How To Book of the Mass to the children’s college funds, which he did faithfully. It is in good shape because of that. Buy them, read them, and give them away to others. Spread the Word. That is what he was all about.”

Visit her blog here >>>

Chris on SonRise Morning Show Thursday

“Truth and Beauty” Radio Interview, 2/5, 7:20 (CST),
Chris will be discussing “Truth and Beauty” co-written with Randy Hain on EWTN/Sacred Heart Radio  February 5th.  The interview is scheduled for 7:20 CST/ 8:20 EST.  You can listen online here >>

Here’s a link to the article >>>

Why Doesn’t the Church Ordain Women?

Solid article from a woman who understands the reasons Holy Orders are reserved to men.  I know this is one of the very unpopular stances in Western Christianity today, however it is the historic and orthodox position of the Church.  It is important to not simply viscerally react but to learn the reasons behind the Church’s teaching.  Ms. Bogle’s article hopefully will help.  It’s a bit dated, written during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, but still spot on.  From catholic.com

Chris, Ed., H2R

WOMEN PRIESTS: NO CHANCE

By JOANNA BOGLE

But everyone agrees that the Catholic Church will one day ordain women. Surely it’s just this pope who is holding things back? The next one is bound to change the rule!”

The point is made frequently and always with the same confidence. There is a general assumption, at least in Europe and North America, that the Catholic Church’s insistence on a male priesthood is an obscure anomaly, which endures only because a Polish pope has, in the 1990s, refused to move with the times.

Yet the times have often favored a female priesthood and never more so than when Christ ordained his first priests, nearly 2,000 years ago. Virtually all the pagan religions of his day had priestesses, and it would have been entirely normal and natural for him to choose women for this task. He had, moreover, a number of excellent potential candidates, from his own Mother, who accompanied him at his first miracle and stood with him as he suffered on the cross, to Mary Magdalene or the women of Bethany. Instead, he chose only men, and he remained immovable on this, continuing right to the end to exhort and train them all, leaving thus a Church which turned out to be safely founded on a rock. From those twelve men a direct line of apostolic succession has given the Catholic Church the bishops and priests it has today.

In the Church’s latest statement on this matter, Pope John Paul II, using his full authority as the successor of Peter, states categorically that the Church cannot—not will not, but cannot —ordain women, now or in the future. The Catechism of the Catholic Church sets it out clearly, quoting the decree Inter insigniores:

“Only a baptized man [ vir] receives sacred ordination. The Lord Jesus chose men [ viri] to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ’s return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.”

We need to understand that Christians believe God to be the essence of divine omnipotence. To put it crudely, he doesn’t make mistakes. When he became incarnate as a human being, he did so at a precise and exact moment in human history, which had been planned from all eternity. From the beginning, God had chosen that there would be a Jewish people, among whom his divine Son would be born. Their own priestly traditions would form part of the background and culture which would help them—and others—to see and know him. Every detail about the Incarnation was known in the mind of God. He was born into the fullness of time.

He didn’t say: “Oops, sorry—I made a terrible mistake! I should have been born into the latter half of the twentieth century, so as to have benefited from the We are Church movement in Germany, or the feminist workshop sessions of America, or the Equal Opportunities legislation in Britain.” On the contrary, he was and remains omnipotent. He knew exactly what he was doing.

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Letter from Bishops to our New President

Undoubtedly, today is a historic day.  The inauguration of President Obama is a milestone, a huge one, for our country’s struggle over civil-rights.  While I do not share the political outlook of President Obama or most of his supporters, I do understand the signficance of his election.  But there are other signifigant factors that surround this election, namely the issue of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and our new President’s avowed suport of it.   For all the talk and rhetoric of hope and change, I wonder how much of it really matters if we still sanction the murder of upwards of a million babies a year.  What kind of society does that?

In any event, I pray his inauguration goes off without a hitch and that his Presidency will be successful.   The following letter from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop to the incoming President can be fuel for our prayers on this historic day.

In Christ, Chris Ed., H2R

____________________________

U.S. Bishops to President-elect: Fundamental Priority, Defend Life

Washington, Jan. 16, 2009 (CWNews.com) – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops yesterday released a letter from Cardinal Francis George, the conference’s president, to President-elect Barack Obama. The letter, dated Tuesday, outlines the “principles and priorities that guide the [bishops’] public policy efforts” so as to offer “an agenda for dialogue and action.” A similar letter was sent to the vice president-elect and members of Congress.

The foundational priority, according to Cardinal George, is the protection of innocent human life. “Most fundamentally,” he writes, “we will work to protect the lives of the most vulnerable and voiceless members of the human family, especially unborn children and those who are disabled or terminally ill.“ He continues:

We will consistently defend the fundamental right to life from conception to natural death. Opposed to abortion as the direct killing of innocent human life, we will encourage one and all to seek common ground that will reduce the number of abortions in morally sound ways that affirm the dignity of pregnant women and their unborn children. We will oppose legislative and other measures to expand abortion. We will work to retain essential, widely supported policies which show respect for unborn life, protect the conscience rights of health care providers and other Americans, and prevent government funding and promotion of abortion. The Hyde amendment and other provisions which for many years have prevented federal funding of abortion have a proven record of reducing abortions. Efforts to force Americans to fund abortions with their tax dollars would pose a serious moral challenge and jeopardize the passage of essential health care reform.”

Cardinal George also discusses seven other priorities:

1. economic challenges: the bishops “support strong, prudent and effective measures,” “advocate a clear priority for poor families and vulnerable workers in the development and implementation of economic recovery measures,” and “support greater accountability and oversight to address irresponsible abuses of the system that contributed to the financial crisis.”

2. health care: the bishops “urge comprehensive action to ensure truly universal health care coverage which protects all human life including pre-natal life, and provides access for all, with a special concern for the poor. Any such legislation ought to respect freedom to choose by offering a variety of options and ensuring respect for the moral and religious convictions of patients and providers.”

3. international affairs: the bishops support “a responsible transition in an Iraq free of religious persecution,” “early, focused and persistent leadership to bring an end to violent conflict and a just peace in the Holy Land,” “US investments to overcome poverty, hunger and disease through increased and reformed foreign assistance,” and anti-HIV efforts that are “both effectively and morally appropriate.” In wording that accommodates different sides of the debate on climate change, Cardinal George adds, “Recognizing the complexity of climate change, we wish to be a voice for the poor and vulnerable in our country and around the world who will be the most adversely affected by any dramatic threats to the environment.”

4. immigration: the bishops call for “comprehensive reform” that is “based on respect for and implementation of the law,” defends “the rights and dignity of all peoples, recognizing that human dignity comes from God,” offers “a path to earned citizenship,” and is attentive to the impact of trade and development policies that foster emigration.

5. marriage: the bishops call for a recognition of marriage as “a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman” that “must remain such in law. In a manner unlike any other relationship, marriage makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the common good of society, especially through the procreation and education of children. No other kinds of personal relationships can be justly made equivalent to the commitment of a man and a woman in marriage.”

6. education: the bishops reiterate their support for “initiatives which provide resources for all parents, especially those of modest means, to choose education which best address the needs of their children.”

7. empowerment of faith-based groups: “We will work with the Administration and Congress to strengthen these partnerships in ways that do not encourage government to abandon its responsibilities, and do not require religious groups to abandon their identity and mission.”

from Catholic World News

Today’s Prayer

If you’re looking for a great daily prayer routine, I suggest Magnificat.  It’s a liturgically based devotional based loosely on the Liturgy of the Hours.  Each monthly issue contains Morning and Evening prayer and Mass Readings for each day.   I’ve really enjoyed having this resources– the best subscription I carry.  Here’s the prayer from Morning Prayer today, which I think readers of this blog will appreciate:

O God and giver of all good gifts, you clease us from stain of sin and make us pure of heart through you Son Jesus Christ.  Lead us to dwell with you in holiness in our everyday lives through constant growth in love for you and for all those whose lives we touch, through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Scripture and the Sanctity of Life

by Chris Findley, Editor, H2R

In December 1979, a police officer suffered complications from being shot three times. He suffered severe brain damage. Months went by and the officer did not respond to stimuli. The attending physician said there was no hope of him ever regaining consciousness. The agonizing decision was made to turn the respirator off. But to the surprise of everyone, the officer began to breathe on his own. After being placed in a nursing home, two years after the shooting, a physician noticed that when he asked the man to, “Breathe deeply,” he did! The doctor also noticed the policeman would open and shut his eyes. Six years after the shooting, and after much rehabilitation, the officer had recovered 95% of his preinjury intellectual ability. 1

In the spring of 2001 a young college student found out that she was pregnant. She was devastated. The idea of facing her parents and her church was almost overwhelming. This was definitely unplanned and was definitely going to disrupt and perhaps derail her life. A friend of hers offered to pay for her to have an abortion. “No one needs to find out,” they said. “It could all be a memory in a few days.” She considered it and decided firmly against it. It was a courageous and difficult decision. But by that decision she was able to place her child for adoption. She was able to be a part of creating a family for a couple who could not have biological children of their own. Because she saw the sanctity of life, her child had life, and God brought a family together.

As we approach the Jan 22nd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, it is a good time to consider how we approach the very real questions of life and death, particularly abortion. Though this is often debated in the realm of politics, as Catholics the starting point of our contemplation should be our faith. How does our faith impact and direct our moral choices? Catholics are often champions for the unborn and have a strong moral theology of life. And yet many American Christians, Catholic and non-Catholic, do not view life issues as having a primary importance in our society. Sadly, many people have a laissez-faire approach to these important issues. Why then does the Church resist and remain so committed to life? What is the Biblical and traditional foundation for such a passionate conviction?

One of the earliest Christian resources of instruction outside of the Bible is an instructional manual called the Didache. It dates from before 150AD. Its teaching to Christians is clear, “You shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill the one who has been born.”2 In fact one of the most common practices among the pagans in the first century was abortion or abandoning unwanted infants to die by the side of the road. The Christians of that era strongly stood out because they rejected that practice. In the early church Letter to Diognetus the difference is reported this way, “They [The Christians] bear children but they do not destroy their offspring.”3

Of course, sanctity of life covers much more than the issue of abortion. In the case of prematurely ending the life of the elderly, mentally incapacitated, or the infirm the church has always been equally opposed.

The Concept of Life
Defining the terms is crucial in this work. According to the Oxford American Dictionary the word “sanctity” means “the state or quality of being holy, sacred or saintly,” and “being of ultimate importance and inviolability” In short, our investigation of this must begin from the conviction that life itself is holy. Where do we get such a claim?

Life is sacred chiefly because of its source. Acts 17:24-25 says, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth… he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” 4 There are numerous scriptural references to this idea. From cover to cover the Bible and Catholic tradition clearly shows us that life is sacred because God is the one that gives it.

God is the power behind the beginning of life. The psalms tell us that, “Children are a gift from the Lord.”5 Life is a gift from God. You and I are given the great privilege of participating with God in the creation of new life. But sexual relationships alone cannot create a soul. At conception the Lord places an eternal soul into the tiny of body that is developing. Life, and its value comes from the conviction that you and I are more than animals, more than flesh and bone. We are created in the image and likeness of God. We did not give or create life and we have no right to take it away.

More and more, I’m afraid that life is viewed as valuable only if we can assign or discern its value. In our culture, the lives of young and old, are being judged by their utilitarian value. Consider what then Colorado governor Richard D. Lamm said in an 1984 address to the Colorado Health Lawyers Association. He said, “Elderly people who are terminally ill have a duty to die and get out of the way” 6 This is shocking and abhorrent and patently un-Christian. Life is God’s gift.

Vote for Fr. Longenecker!

Fr. Dwight Longenecker, former Anglican and now Catholic convert priest, has an excellent blog called “Standing on My Head”.  This blog has been nominated for “Best Religious Blog” at the 2008 Weblog Awards.  Take a look at his blog and then consider giving him your vote.  It’s really a great site full of info, pithy observations and commentary and is a great encouragement to many.
Click here to vote >>>>

How Atheism is Being Sold to America

Phenomenal article!  Be sure and read the whole thing…. Chris, Editor, H2R.

How atheism is being sold to America

by David Kupelian, wnd.com

Religion – including Christianity and Judaism – is “violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism, tribalism, and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children.” At least that’s according to the No. 1 New York Times bestseller “God is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons Everything” by journalist Christopher Hitchens.

In the news business, we often cite a nation’s current top-selling books – for example, the popularity of anti-Semitic titles in Arab countries – as evidence of the mindset of the people.

Well, in the United States of America right now, some of the most-bought, most-read and most-discussed books are angry, in-your-face atheist manifestos.

Besides Hitchens’ book, which has dominated nonfiction bestseller charts for months, there’s the popular “Letter to a Christian Nation” by atheist author Sam Harris, sequel to his earlier tome “The End of Faith,” and Oxford biologist Richard Dawkins’ “The God Delusion” – all New York Times bestsellers.

Then there are other hot titles: “God: The Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist” by Victor J. Stenger. “Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon” by Daniel C. Dennett. “Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person’s Answer to Christian Fundamentalism” by David Mills. And so on.

“This is atheism’s moment,” crowed David Steinberger, CEO of Perseus Books in a Wall Street Journal interview. “Mr. Hitchens has written the category killer, and we’re excited about having the next book.” That’s right – this fall the publishing world will further cash in on the anti-God juggernaut with “The Pocket Atheist,” featuring the writings of famous atheists, edited by Hitchens.

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