Theology Geek joke

Like the argument for God's existence from a Bach organ composition, either you get it or you don't.

". . . lust isolates, while love unites" Archbishop George Niederauer's Keynote Address to the Lighted Candle Society

"Pornography is not a new challenge to single-hearted human love and to respect for the dignity of human persons and human sexuality,” said Archbishop George Niederauer recently during his keynote address at the Lighted Candle Society's annual Guardian of Light supper. “However, the explosive increase in the accessibility and availability of pornography is new and deeply troubling. Pornography is now way beyond a problem with films and magazines. Every computer terminal is its pipeline, and cell phones and other hand held devices, many of them marketed to children and young people, literally deliver pornography everywhere, to anyone." He termed this an "electronic tsunami".

Wonderfully typical of the pastoral approach of the Archbishop of San Francisco, who serves as chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Communications and a member of the Pontifical Council on Social Communications, he doesn't primarily focus on the what, but the why, which is always more important:

"What should motivate us most profoundly is not the amount of pornography there is, but the kind of harm it does. Pornography assaults human dignity and commodifies people and human sexuality. Porn starves the human soul in its spiritual dimension.... The human person, an irreplaceable gift, becomes a throwaway toy."



(Quotes from the The Intermountain Catholic, where you can read the entire article)

Living the Gospel in the real world

Linda Thomson, writing for the Deseret News, one of our two Salt Lake City newspapers, reports good news, or, dare I write, Good News!, in a story about forgiveness.

"A grieving father and husband told the man who killed three members of his family that he'd forgiven him and gently rebuked a community that hadn't embraced the same sentiment. 'I want Carlos to know I forgive him,' said Gary Ceran during today's sentencing of Carlos Rodolfo Prieto, 25.

"Ceran tearfully explained that if Prieto could look him in the eye, shake his hand and promise such tragedy wouldn't be repeated, that would be enough.

"'Hasn't there been enough suffering,' he added, saying that if a Caucasian legally in the United States had been driving sober but still ran a red light the results would have been the same.

"'We hope people are praying for him as well as us.'

"Prieto, who pleaded guilty in April to three third-degree felony counts of automobile homicide, was ordered to serve two consecutive terms of up to five years in prison and another term was set to run concurrently. In issuing the sentence, 3rd District Court Judge Vernice Trease said she had to balance the gravity of Prieto's crime against his lack of any criminal record, his demonstration of remorse, his own role as a good father and what he's done since he was jailed Christmas Eve.

"Police said Prieto was driving drunk, ran a red light and smashed his pickup truck into a car carrying the family of six. Cheryl Ceran, 47, and her son, Ian Ceran, 15, died at the scene. A daughter, Julianna Ceran, 7, was flown to a hospital, but died later. Gary Ceran, 45, had minor injuries. Caleb Ceran, 12, and Clarissa Ceran, 19, were also injured. The survivors were in the back seat of the car.

"Since being jailed, Trease noted that Prieto had embraced responsibility for his actions and taken part in six courses, including alcohol rehabilitation and mental health counseling.

"Prieto, who said he prays nightly about what happened, was crying through most of the sentencing. 'I want to thank this wonderful man for forgiving me. I know what I have done. I am taking my responsibility. I wish I could give my life so he could have his happiness back.' He added that he struggles with his lack of ability to change what did happen. 'I wish I could do something to ease their pain, heal their hearts. There is not a day I don't think about it ... I'm saying this from right inside my heart.'"

My Gram Parsons project, part I

"Love hurts/love scars/love wounds/it mars/any heart not tough, or strong enough to take a lot of pain/take a lot of pain/Love is like a cloud that pours a lot of rain. . ." Nonetheless, "I know it isn't true. I know it isn't true that love is just a lie made to make you blue."

Although a signature song of the Scottish group Nazareth, let us not forget Gram Parsons, who wrote it and to whom this is a tribute. The beauty of this version is that it returns the song from rock ballad to twangy country tune. Our hearts are fickle and weak, but "You have made us for Yourself," O Lord, "and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."

Truly catholic

The B-Movie Catechism is a blog after my own heart. EegahInc has encouraged me to continue in my effort to reconcile my Catholic faith with my love of popular music. Therefore, coming tommorrow, part one of a projected five part Gram Parsons Project: a surprising duo singing Parsons' Love Hurts, a song made popular by the Scottish group Nazareth. Installments will be posted on Fridays.



(Diaconal bow to Fr. Erik for his post)

PP. Iohannes Paulus Secundum, ora pro nobis

O Blessed Trinity
We thank You for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II
and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him. Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you. Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints.
Amen.

Maintaining the Communion of Saints

Over on Deep Furrows Fred answers the question, Why Pray to the Saints?.

I don't mind sharing that one of the most beneficial things I do each day is invoke my personal litany, as well as pray to particular saints for particular needs. Here's my list, which I share by way of encouragement: Saint Stephen, my patron; St. Martin of Tours, my other patron; St. Mary Magdalene, my patroness; St. Joseph, Sts. Francis and Clare; St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (i.e., Edit Stein); Blessed Teresa of Calcutta; Pope John Paul II, whose intercession I am invoking right now on a deeply personal issue, and whose canonization, along with Blessed Teresa's I pray to God for, along with that of Archbishop Oscar Romero. Further, I frequently invoke St. Lawrence, St. Philip, St. Augustine, St. Faustina, Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, and as of quite recently, St. Benedict and St. Gianna Molla.