Science And Technology Shows The Church May Be Right After All

I bet this really torks off Planned Parenthood.  Check it out:

A new type of ultrasound scan has produced vivid pictures of a 12 week-old foetus "walking" in the womb. The new images also show foetuses apparently yawning and rubbing its eyes. The scans, pioneered by Professor Stuart Campbell at London's Create Health Clinic, are much more detailed than conventional ultrasound.

Professor Campbell has previously released images of unborn babies appearing to smile.

Conventional ultrasound, usually offered to mothers at 12 and 20 weeks, produces 2D images of the developing foetus. These are very useful for helping doctors to measure and assess the growth of the foetus, but convey very little information about behaviour.

Professor Campbell has perfected a technique which not only produces detailed 3D images, but records foetal movement in real time.

He says his work has been able to show for the first time that the unborn baby engages in complex behaviour from an early stage of its development.

Professor Campbell told the BBC: "This is a new science for understanding and mapping out the behaviour of the baby. Maybe in the future it will help us understand and diagnose genetic disease, maybe even conditions like cerebral palsy which puzzles the medical profession as to why it occurs."

The images have shown:

• From 12 weeks, unborn babies can stretch, kick and leap around the womb - well before the mother can feel movement

• From 18 weeks, they can open their eyes although most doctors thought eyelids were fused until 26 weeks

• From 26 weeks, they appear to exhibit a whole range of typical baby behaviour and moods, including scratching, smiling, crying, hiccuping, and sucking.

Until recently it was thought that smiling did not start until six weeks after birth.

Read the whole article and see some pictures here.

Archbishop Burke: Preacher Of The Truth

If you are a Catholic and you have voted for a politician who supports abortion rights, the St. Louis archbishop says you have committed a grave sin in the eyes of your church. You are no longer in a state of grace, and you may not accept Communion before confessing your sinful vote.

On the eve of his trip to the Vatican to receive an official cloak symbolizing his episcopal authority as archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond L. Burke once again found himself in the spotlight with statements about politics and Communion.

In a radio interview with Charlie Brennan on KMOX Thursday, Burke clarified his position that Roman Catholics in his archdiocese who vote for candidates supportive of abortion rights should confess their sin in order to receive Communion.

In an interview from Lambert Field on his way to Rome Friday, Burke said that while there are different degrees of seriousness for such a sin "it doesn't make a lot of difference" whether a Catholic votes for a politician who supports abortion rights because of that politician's stance on abortion, or for other reasons. "If the voter is aware of that politician's pro-abortion position, they would still be supporting someone who is cooperating in the promotion of abortion," he said.

Read the whole article here.

Holy Smokes, Is This Guy Right On Or What?

I was somewhat involved in a conversation with some of my protestant brothers and sisters about the morality (or more accurately the immorality) of contraception, so when I read this, I thought of them.  I hope they get a chance to read this one - it is really, really good.  He are a few excerpts:

"I am going to discuss a controversial subject, and many of you may not like what I have to say. But the topic needs to be addressed. I’ve had the following (and many other related) thoughts on my mind for quite some time. Now is simply when I’ve decided to get them out in the open. Away we go.

I have a feeling that many, even most, of you don't know that I am rather vehemently opposed to artificial birth control. That's right: I think sexual contraception is immoral. Some people, when they discover this dark secret about me, have said, "Isn't that only something Catholics believe?" (as if that somehow automatically disqualifies it from credulity). Well, yes, it is a standard almost exclusively upheld by the Catholic Church -- today, that is. Prior to 1930, however, every major Christian fellowship on the planet -- Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, etc. -- objected just as strongly to contraception as an immoral and unbiblical practice. Luther, Calvin and Wesley, to name just a few major classical Protestant leaders, penned some of the most strident denunciations of birth control you could find. As far back as the Didache (c. AD 90), a magisterial reservoir of post-apostolic teaching, artificial birth control was condemned by the early Church right along with abortion as a foul, pagan practice. For literally two millennia, the rejection of contraception -- in principle if not, sadly, always in practice -- was a hallmark of the Church's holiness – its “differentness” -- from the world. But then at the 1930 Lambeth conference, the Anglican Church officially pronounced contraception to be acceptable in certain rare conditions. The dike was broken. The waters of sexual autonomy coursed over the USA and Europe like an icy flood.

I won’t go to any great lengths describing the effects this compromise has had on our culture. Do I really need to? Divorce, abortion, etc. Instead, I’ll let Steve Kellmeyer tell you a bit more about the harmful consequences of our devolution into a contraceptive society. Except for his overly grim conclusion, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Kellmeyer. I strongly encourage you hear him out.

However, before I post his words on this topic, I might as well explain why I myself reject contraception. (To be honest, I feel obligated to do so almost entirely in virtue of the overwhelming light of Christian tradition pointing me that way. Who do I think I am to overrule the almost unanimous testimony of the Body of Christ?) For now, I won’t go into any great technical philosophical or theological depths about my position. Basically I reject contraception because it 1) brings deceit into the bedroom, 2) violates the obvious reproductive telos God designed in the sex act, 3) encourages sexual immaturity, and 4) gives men yet more freedom to trifle with women."

Read the whole thing here.

Archbishop Burke Defends Himself

Here is an excellent article by Bishop Burke explaining his actions as regards the reception (or not) by pro-abortion politicians. Here is a little excerpt:

"In his encyclical letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II presents, in a full way, the visible and invisible dimension of the communion with Christ and the church that must exist for a worthy reception of the body of Christ (Nos. 34-46). Regarding the invisible dimension of communion, he reminds us of what we have been taught or should have been taught from our first preparation for holy Communion, namely that it is a sacrilege to receive the sacrament when one is not in the state of grace. One who publicly condones and promotes objectively grave sin also lacks the proper disposition for the worthy reception of holy Communion. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church, following the ancient admonition of St. Paul, reminds us, we must examine our conscience before approaching to receive Communion; and if we are involved in a grave sin, we must repent and be absolved of the sin in the sacrament of penance before receiving Communion (No. 1385 and 1 Cor 11:27-29). I write this as one who must and does examine his own conscience every time he celebrates Mass and receives Communion, as one who is only too well aware of his own need of constant conversion.

The matter is complicated further by the public nature of the Catholic politician’s violation of the moral law in supporting or voting for legislation that permits the taking of an innocent human life, for the sin risks scandal to others. The scandal is especially grave when Catholic politicians not only fail to restrict the evil of abortion within the bounds permitted by the U.S. Supreme Court, but even promote the “right” to abortion, praising the historical extension of this right and harshly criticizing those who favor laws to protect unborn human life. How can one not be gravely scandalized by the spectacle of Catholic politicians who advance the agenda of pro-abortion organizations like Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Rights Action League?

In other words, for the Catholic politician to receive Communion when he or she has publicly violated the moral law in a grave matter like procured abortion risks leading others into thinking that they can accept procured abortion with a right conscience. In such a case, if the Catholic politician does not recognize the lack of the proper disposition to receive Communion, then the church herself must refuse the sacrament, in order to safeguard the worthy reception of the sacrament and to prevent a serious scandal among the faithful. I mentioned above the conversation with a prominent non-Catholic public official who was confused about the firmness of the church’s teaching on procured abortion because of Catholic politicians who support pro-abortion legislation and yet claim to be good Catholics. After I had set forth the church’s discipline in the matter during my service as bishop of La Crosse, many Catholics and non-Catholics alike wrote to thank me for making clear what had been very confusing for them. The teaching and discipline that I set forth is not in any way new, and it should not be exploited as a political tool by anyone."

Read the whole thing here.

A Courageous Man

The governor of Massachusetts is a brave man because in a state where same-sex marriage is permitted he stands for the sanctity of marriage.  He was recently in Washington and gave a wonderful and heartfelt defense of marriage.  Here are a few of his words:

"Like me, the great majority of Americans wish both to preserve the traditional definition of marriage and to oppose bias and intolerance directed towards gays and lesbians, ...Given the decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. . . Should we abandon marriage as we know it and as it was known by the framers of our Constitution? Has America been wrong about marriage for 200 plus years? Were generations that spanned thousands of years from all the civilizations of the world wrong about marriage? Are the philosophies and teachings of all the world's major religions simply wrong? Or is it more likely that four people among the seven that sat in a court in Massachusetts have erred? I believe that is the case."

Then he made a wonderful point that seems to have been forgotten in the debate.  He said "Marriage is also for children. In fact, marriage is principally for the nurturing and development of children. The children of America have the right to have a father and a mother."

You can read NRO's Maggie Gallagher's commentary here.

The Real Cause Of The Scandal

From Domenico Bettinelli:

"Apparently some homosexual activists have gone from denying that the Scandal was primarily about gay men abusing young adult males and now admit that it was about homosexuality, but that the real problem is the repression of homosexual expression in the Catholic Church. That’s right, the real cause is not homosexuality, but “homophobia.”

David France, the openly homosexual author of “Our Fathers”, tells the gay magazine The Advocate: “[W]e now know from talking to these priests [who molested teenagers]: they’re gay … And if they were gay men, we should ask ourselves why that was happening. What caused it? … What I argue is that these guys represent homosexuality in pure and total repression. … This is what successful repression looks like: men so alienated from their own sense of self that their sexual expressions come out in explosive ways.”

In other words, the solution to the Scandal is not chastity, but the rejection of chastity. So on top of ending priestly celibacy, we have to allow gay marriage or something.

You know, people say the Catholic Church is obsessed with sex, but really it’s the other people who make sex sound like such an all-powerful force that if you resist it and don’t engage in it regularly, it will twist you into a monster and make you do unspeakable things. St. Paul was right: “For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.” And also, “Live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want.” (Gal 5:13-18) St. Paul speaks of mastery, while France and those who think like him speak of slavery."

Interesting Post

on the tactics/strategies of homosexual activists.  It has an link that may be interesting, but be careful, it is liable to really tork you off - especially if you are Catholic.

Planned Parenthood: Nazi's In Disguise

"After a lengthy incubation, the sick dreams of Margaret Sanger (Founder of Planned Parenthood) are finally hatching. Against the excuses of her modern defenders, it should be remembered that the founder of Planned Parenthood's main interest in the legalization of abortion was not that women should be freed from the bonds of childbearing, but that unsavory types should be cleansed from the larger population.

In fact, Sanger only turned to abortion when her original plan to "apply a stern and rigid policy of sterilization and segregation" to those with "objectionable traits" -- sometimes derided as the stronger epithet "human weeds" -- found little support. Turned out folks felt a bit queasy about sending those of certain ethnic backgrounds and with disabilities and mental illnesses off to "farm lands and homesteads" to be "taught to work under competent instructors for the period of their entire lives."

Sounds a bit like a concentration camp, no? Then again, she was a great admirer of the Nazi eugenics movement. Like Hitler, she had a long list of folks she wanted to eliminate from society, including "illiterates, paupers, unemployables, criminals, prostitutes, dope fiends."

More to the point, Sanger considered non-Aryan people "a great biological menace to the future of civilization." The same woman considered a saint today by the pro-choice crowd warned supporters in 1939 that they did not want "word to get out that we want to exterminate the Negro population."

But look at the massive abortion rates in modern black neighborhoods and set them against, say, the merely moderate rates in white neighborhoods, and it becomes depressingly clear that Sanger helped accomplish something both depressing and far-reaching. If these high death rates were attached to a war, it would be called genocide. When it happens in a Planned Parenthood office we call it progress."

Read the whole article here.

A Protestant Conversation On Contraception

Very interesting.

Kick Butt Post On Abortion

Here is a portion that shows how hateful some pro-abortion folks can be:

"Tonight we had parent-teacher night - the highlight of the teacher's year (not)!

I met with the mother of the pro-termination student ostensibly to discuss the student's academic performance. I said my piece, then the mum sent the daughter out of the room and proceeded to lambast me.

She spoke firmly but calmly at first, but escalated into fist-shaking and cursing (and I don't mean $%^*!, I mean she actually cursed me). She felt that it was inappropriate for me to have discussed the topic with the students given that it was a history class. I tried to explain my reasoning, and I - genuinely - apologised if she felt that her student had been disadvantaged by my decision to tailor the curriculum to my class's interests.

That only made things worse.

She objected to three things:
1.) that the topic was brought up at all
2.) that the topic was discussed in substance
3.) that a male teacher was discussing the subject.

I asked her to explain how my gender was relevant. She said that as a man I was ignorant of women's choices. She said that I lied and was full of shit and didn't know what I was talking about. She accused me of acting criminally and said that I had neither the right to an opinion, nor the ability to discuss facts. I was told that if her partner was there he would punch me in the face, and that she wanted to throttle me.

She said a lot of things.

I asked her why she hadn't brought this to my attention asap after the event. She responded by saying that if I taught her daughter again she'd get me fired.

By this stage I was stunned. The other teachers in the room were all paying attention and one of them was shaking in fright. The mother had now left her seat and was standing in front of me, waving her fist.

I was tempted to ask her why she chose a Catholic school to educate her daughter, but thought better of it. Her voice got higher and she bellowed at me - "You're a man, you don't get a say, what would you know?" At that point, I lowered my voice and attempted to answer by giving my own personal experiences with abortion (sadly).

She cut me off with a statement that I will take to the end of my days:

She turned on her heel, grabbed her daughter and marched down the hall. I heard her scream in frustration as she reached the exit door.

I made the sign of the cross and prayed briefly, before the other teachers in the room came over to see if I was okay. I am. If anything, I was shaken, not stirred LOL."
 

The post also has some phenomenal stats and some good resources for information.

In The Words Of St. Thomas More...

"And, therefore, have we great cause with great dread and reverence to consider well the state of our own soul when we shall go to the Board of God, and as near as we can (with the help of His special Grace diligently prayed for before) purge and cleanse our souls by Confession, Contrition, and Penance, with full purpose of forsaking from thenceforth the proud desires of the devil, the greedy covetousness of wretched worldly wealth, and the foul affection of the filthy flesh, and being in full mind to persevere, and continue in the ways of God, and holy cleanness of Spirit: lest that, if we presume so irreverently to receive this precious Margarite, this pure Pearl, the Blessed Body of our Saviour Himself, contained in the Sacramental sign of bread, that like a sort of swine, rioting in the dirt, and wallowing in the mire, we tread it under the filthy feet of our foul affections, while we set more by them than by It, intending to walk and wallow in the puddle of foul, filthy sin; therewith, the legion of devils may get leave of Christ so to enter into us as they got leave of Him to enter into the hogs of Genezareth; and as they ran forth with them, and never stinted till they drowned them in the sea, so run on with us, (but if God of His great mercy refrain them and give us the grace to repent) and not fail to drown us in the deep sea of everlasting sorrow. . . . "

One might think he was talking to present day politicians who publicly support abortion and then dare to come forward to recieve communion.

If You Know Me You Will Know Why I Like This Website...

You can buy chocolate caskets...

or a casket paperweight...

or even a casket putter...

Buy one of these great gifts for your local funeral director today - they deserve it. I always feel sorry for them considering they are working in a dying profession. Really!...it's a grave situation.

The Inquisition Revisited

"Even today, any mention of "the Inquisition" can produce a strong, visceral, negative reaction. The era of the Inquisition-- which stretched across six centuries-- is almost universally regarded as one of the ugliest chapters in the history of the Catholic Church.

But as a new Vatican study points out, the Inquisition must be understood in context, and judged against the standards proper to its own historical era. Jacques Chiffoleau, a French historian who took part in the recent Vatican study, argues that the Inquisition is "not an aberration or an accident of history, but a key element in the evolution of religious and political institutions in the Western world." Many of the lessons that can be drawn from a careful study of the Inquisition are still relevant today, he believes."

Read the whole article here.

Baptisms and Weddings

Hello everyone, I hope everything is going wonderful.  Yesterday I was able to serve as a deacon at the marriage of two friends of mine.  The groom, interestingly enough, is a former seminarian.  It was a wonderful ceremony presided over by the priest who was my Spiritual Direction during my four years of college seminary.  The couple, Bill and Meredith, are a wonderful example of what marriage ought to be.  Their love for one another is an inspiration - they truly understand the theology of the body, and live it in their lives.  I hope and pray that one day soon all couples will be as well prepared for marriage as they were.

In other sacramental news this morning after the 11:00 Mass I assisted with two baptisms.  The pastor was kind enough to let me do much of the ceremony including the exorcism, annointings, and blessings.  It was wonderful...I can't wait to do the whole thing on my own.  It is a great joy to bring these children into God's family.

Other than that I have been busy doing odds and ends - visiting the sick, blessing things, and writing thank you's to everyone who gave me gifts for my ordination.  Everyone was so generous!

Some Diocese To Fire Gay Employees Who Get "Married"

Domenico Bettinelli of Bettnet has this to say about it:

"It looks like the four dioceses in Massachusetts aren’t going to just roll over for gay marriage (so to speak). They are re-formulating their employee policies and may even fire gay employees who get married. I know some of you will say that gays shouldn’t be on the payroll in the first place. Two problems with that. First, there is nothing wrong with a chaste homosexual trying to live according to the Church’s teaching. Two, if the person doesn’t tell you he’s gay, how are you to know?

But, if they go out and get married, that’s a whole different story. That is not someone living according to the Church’s teaching on chastity and on marriage, and they will soon be demanding employee benefits coverage for their “spouse”. And for the Church to provide material, moral, or spiritual support for such perversity would be wrong."

I totally agree.

The Illustrious Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger Weighs In On The Communion Issue

In an official letter to the US bishops, which has not been made public, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith writes that Catholics who are "living in grave sin" or who "reject the doctrine of the Church," should abstain from the Eucharist.

I don't quite understand what the big deal is.  This has been the constant teaching of the Church for centuries.

Coming soon to a Senate near you

The US Senate will be voting on a federal marriage amendment on July 15.  You can do your part to promote the sanctity of Marriage by going here or here.

Deacon Assignment

I arrived at my summer assignment today, and it is very good to be here.  From now until the second week in August I will be at Holy Spirit Church in Sioux Falls.  I am jumping right into the work by meeting with some people about a wake tomorrow night and I am preaching tomorrow morning at the 7am Mass.  It will be a very good summer full of exciting events.

Homily For The Solemnity of Corpus Christi

“This is my body, given up for you.”

Why are we here?  Why were we born, and what do we live for? Why do we come here to this place week after week, and for some of us day after day?  Many would say that the answer to this question is very complicated, very deep, very philosophical or theological.  I disagree.  I think the answer is really quite simple.  The Church believes, as she has told us time and time again that the reason we are here, the reason we are born, the reason that we continue to live, and ultimately the reason that we die is so that we may become one with God. 

Contrary to what society might tell us, we are not made for this world, we are made for heaven, and the only way to get there is to be holy.   Each and every one of us – from the tiniest baby in the womb to the oldest in our midst is called to holiness, not just the priests and deacons, the monks and nuns, but every single human being on the face of the earth is called to be holy – to be a saint.

Whenever I speak about this, there is bound to be a number of people who will ask me what holiness is and how to live it.  Here is the answer: Holiness, simply stated, is to be like Jesus, and live it by living just like Jesus lived.

Today’s solemnity celebrating the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks volumes about holiness and how to live it, for it reminds us quite graphically what it means to act like Jesus who we are called to imitate.

Today’s celebration rejoices in the words that Jesus spoke with his lips at the last supper and spoke with his body as suffered and died on that Good Friday 2004 years ago. “This is my Body, given up for you.”  Eight words which changed the world.  Eight words that embody what Jesus and his message are all about.  Eight words which speak to us of the unspeakable love that Christ has for each and every one of us – no matter how big of a sinner we might be.  Eight words which challenge us to be holy as Christ himself was holy.

Christ calls us all to give ourselves away in love, just as he did.  For me as a deacon and God willing a priest, this means giving myself to others in service through the gift of lifelong celibacy.  For most of you, that self-giving will be in the sacrament of marriage, where in a special way husband and wife are called to mirror that love and self giving between Christ Jesus and his bride, the Church.  Did you know that the reason that God created marriage was so that we might look at married couples, see their love for one another, and think to ourselves, “that is how much Christ loves us.”  That is a pretty tall order for married couples when we consider exactly how Christ loved the Church…

You see, just as Jesus, on the night he was betrayed spoke with his lips of how he would give himself – his very flesh to the Church, and later spoke those same words with his body on the Cross, so the married couples are called to speak with their lips their love and total self giving at their marriage ceremony and later that night speak those same words of total and complete self giving with their bodies.  This is why the Church believes that contraception is so evil.  When contraception enters into the equation we have a situation where we speak words of total self-giving with our lips and then make what is supposed to be an act of total self-giving into a lie. When a couple uses contraception it is as if they say with their lips “I give you everything, totally and without reserve” and then with their bodies they say “I give you every, totally and without reserve...EXCEPT my fertility.”  That is no total self-gift.  Jesus held nothing back when he gave himself totally – he is our model, we should do the same.

Just as contraception is the exact opposite of the self giving that Jesus teaches us, there is also another way that this spirit of selfishness is played out in our society.  In fact, his words, “This is my body” have been so twisted and perverted by some so as to mean exactly what the opposite of what they should mean.  How many times have we heard women, men, and various organizations proclaim that This is MY body…I will do with it what I please” as a means to justify the absolute horror of abortion?  Women and men who are considering abortion, if they truly want to be like Jesus, should rather be saying with Jesus, This is my body, and I am willing to give it up to that the son or daughter we have conceived might live. 

We like Jesus should be willing to sacrifice anything so that that another might have life.  It is the epitome of selfishness and the exact opposite of what Christ taught us in his life and in his death to promote abortion – this is why you cannot be catholic and be pro-abortion.  They are exact opposites.  It’s like mixing fire and water…it just doesn’t work.

Now I must admit that so far this homily has been rather negative…sin, contraception, mothers killing their own children…so let me change my tune just a bit.  When Jesus gave himself on the cross, he did indeed give himself as an example for us – so that we might follow after him, but at the very same time he provided a remedy for when we fail to follow him as we should.  Not only did he give his body in a total act of self-giving as an example, but he shed his blood, “so that sins might be forgiven.”

I know it might be hard to believe…or not…that even Deacon Christensen is a sinner.  We have all fallen short, we have all been selfish, we have all failed to live up to the example of total self giving that we see here before us, and that we will soon enter into in the Eucharist.  Thanks be to God that Christ gave himself so that we might find forgiveness.  What love he has shown us.  What mercy is available to us if only we will receive it. 

In this homily I have spoken about sin, sins that we may be afraid to take to confession, but please, have no fear.  Jesus shed his blood so that we might be forgiven, not that he might smite us in his wrath and anger.  He is the good and gentle shepherd who laid down his life for his flock.  He seeks out the lost sheep, lifts them from the mess they are in, and places him on his shoulders.  Our God is a God of mercy and compassion.  There is no need to fear even though we may be great sinners.

My friends, Jesus suffered and died that we might live.  He gave his very flesh and blood to teach us how to be holy and to teach us just how much he loves us and is willing to forgive us of any sin.  It would be foolish to walk away from that love.  It would be sheer genius to walk into that love…lets begin that walk today.

Pictures From The Ordination

Promise of Celibacy (I'm the one closest to the camara)

Promise of Obedience:

Prostration and Litany of the Saints:

Laying on of hands:

Prayer of Consecration:

Recieving the Book of The Gospels:

The kiss of peace (I wonder what Joe London will say about this one?):

Me and Bishop Robert Carlson after the ceremony:

Praise The Lord

Well Folks, I am a deacon.  It was a wonderful ceremony (I should have pictures up soon), and the vespers and benediction at the Carmelite Monastery after the ordination was beautiful too (it was all in latin).  Tomorrow I will preach my first homily and carry our Lord throught the Streets of my hometown during the Corpus Christi procession.  More later including the text of my first homily.

Thanks Be To God

Looks like many teenagers moving toward modesty.  A good thing considering that many young ladies coming to Mass look like strippers and prostitutes.

Here are a few excerpts from the article:

During a recent shopping trip to Nordstrom, 11-year-old Ella Gunderson became frustrated with all the low-cut hip-huggers and skintight tops.  So she wrote to the Seattle-based chain's executives.

"I see all of these girls who walk around with pants that show their belly button and underwear," she wrote. "Your clearks sugjest [sic] that there is only one look. If that is true, then girls are suppost to walk around half naked."

Nordstrom executives wrote back and promised Ella the company would try to provide a variety of fashions for youngsters.

Many youngsters are frustrated by the profusion of racy teenage clothing, according to Buzz Marketing, a New Jersey-based firm that compiles feedback from teen advisers. "There is just sensory overload. Kids are going to say enough already," said Buzz's 24-year-old chief executive, Tina Wells.

Inside The Mind of A Courageous Bishop

"The image of the abortion never left the mind of the young hospital orderly. He went on to study for the priesthood, and today he is Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, N.D. He recently spoke out about Catholic politicians who cooperate with evil."

Read the whole article here.

Ordination Countdown

3	days
92	hours
5560	minutes
333639	seconds

Well folks, we are getting down to the wire.  Lots of people are asking me if I am nervous, and surprisingly I am not. I think I am just excited.  I have a few things left to prepare for.  For instance, I have to write a little homily for First Vespers of The Solemnity of Corpus Christi and Benediction which I will preside over at the local Discalced Carmelite Monastery in South Dakota.  I also have to work on the music because Vespers will be sung entirely in latin.  I also have to finish my homily for Sunday as well as make sure everything is lined up for the procession.  It will be a real whirlwind. 

Please, pray for me over these next few days.  I will surely need it.