Latin America's Changing Identity

Latin America, since the Spanish and Portugese conquistadors arrived, has had an identity intricately linked to Catholicism. Since this time and currently, the great majority of people in the region are Roman Catholics. However, since the 1980's, the Catholic Church has slowly been losing ground to protestant Christians, in particular, Evangelical Christian denominations.

Latin America through the 19th and 20th centuries has had their share of dictators and tyrants, so unfortunately their Catholic identity couldn't prevent that. Today, however, it is the socialist left that are perhaps the biggest threat to Catholic orthodoxy in the region. In the most recent Mexican elections, the socialist party was narrowly defeated by the family and church friendly party. The fact that these elections are close is evidence enough of strong backing that these movements and ideology have in Latin America. Several Latin American countries have socialist governments in power presently.

Abortion is another example of the shifting identity of Latin America. For many years most of the region held laws strictly prohibiting abortion but as it stands at the moment El Salvador and Chile are the only Latin American nations to completely prohibit abortions.

Please pray for Latin America to stay close and true to its Catholic identity.

Cardinal Pell Defends Against the Liberals

Cardinal Pell, the great Australian hero of Catholic Orthodoxy, in an interview with 'AD2000' has defended himself and the Church against malicious snipes by former Director of the Melbourne Catholic Education Office, Fr Frank Martin. Fr Martin in an Opinion article in the 'Sunday Herald Sun' on 18 June, expressed a great deal of views that are in direct contrast to the Church's teachings. In doing so he also personally attacked Cardinal Pell by referring to him as a man who is "about power and control".

In the article Fr Martin pretends to be the real hero, all about accepting everyone. This is an interesting point of view, because that certainly wasn't Jesus' message. When Jesus stopped a women from stoning due to adultery, he didn't say 'that's ok, love. We all sin, it doesn't matter! Chill out!' But instead, he told the woman 'to go away [unharmed] and SIN NO MORE'.

In the Cardinal's words;

'Our Lord certainly understood people in their weakness and he did eat with sinners. But he called them to repentance and a change of heart. He didn't urge them to continue in their bad habits.'

In this whole issue it is just beyond comprehension why he is a priest if he doesn't believe what the church teaches. I couldn't imagine giving up my life for something I didn't believe in.

One of my favourite quotes from the article is;

'A favourite tactic of dissenters is to try to claim the centre ground; to make it appear that they constitute the moderate mainstream of the Church even when denying Catholic doctrines.'

Here we go again, pretending to be the real hero against the 'mighty, oppressive and backward Church'!

Pell also says;

'To leave Fr Martin unanswered would risk giving the impression that his views are part of an acceptable sprectrum. This is not so. They are imprudent dissent.'

Hoorah and excellent! Hopefully Archbishop Hart also either reprimands Fr Martin quite forcefully or speaks out that his views are not correct or representative of the Church.

God Bless defenders of orthodoxy and our faith.

Sacrilegous Movie on St Teresa of Avila

This movie is a disgrace in the same way that 'the Da Vinci Code' is. They are gross lies and really just an excuse to make a movie about sex.

The director, Ray Loriga, says:

"These subjects were considered scandalous then and have not been studied much. They'll probably seem scandalous now, which does not say much for the progress made by the Catholic Church over the past centuries."

Scandalous in terms of their accuracy you silly goose! Are you even aware what the heck a virgin is Mr Lorgia?

A Catholic Italy?

Ex-Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Belusconi, is reported to have said 'we want Italy to be Catholic and of Italians'. Whilst it is just on four months since Berlusconi conceded defeat, it could be argued that Italy did not agree with this attitude. However, results in the election were extremely close and so it is difficult to determine. The Professor of Contemporary European History at the University of Florence, Paul Ginsborg, is Berlusconi's biographer and has stated that Berlusconi is looking at a political comeback. Berlusconi remains the leader of the CDL (Italy's opposition party) and the next election could also be just as close.

Nationalism and tightening immigration laws are gaining a great deal of political clout in Europe over the past decade. Particularly countries such as Holland and France are beginning to be concerned over the amount of Arab Islamic immigration. Not only is the immigration seen as a problem in Europe, but the fact that Muslims appear to be the only group with increasing birth rates beyond replenishing rates. This increases the proportion of the population that are of Arabic descent and of Islamic religion. The culture of both the religions and ethnicities are very different and many Europeans are feeling that the culture of their native countries are changing.

How the Italians enter into this political issue over the coming years will be interesting to observe and it appears that the next election might very well be won and lost on this battle ground.

Cloning can affect votes

According to an article in 'The Age', Fr John Flemming sent a letter to MP's stating that the way they vote on ESCR could well affect the way their constiuents vote. The article states that 51 per cent of Australians are against cloning human embryos as a source of stem cells. Every Catholic needs to write in to their local member of parliament asking for a clear articulation on the way they would vote if presented with a bill. Catholics should also make it known that if their local member was in favour of cloning and ESCR then we would be unable to vote for them. Whilst this might not change the member's point of view on the topic, it may lead them to believe that the issue is too sensitive and politically unstable to support.

Please start your letters now!

Bishop of Parrmatta speaks out on ESCR

Bishop Manning of Parramatta wrote an article on embryonic stem cell reseach (ESCR) on the diocese's web site. It is great to hear bishops in Australia showing great leadership and voicing clear articulations on the unequivocal teachings of the Church. It is great because we are starting to hear the real 'meat and potatoes' of Catholic moral teaching, instead of continuing to hear the politically correct view points of the day. The ESCR debate is much more important than whether Australia should say sorry to the aboriginals. Slowly but surely, the clergy of the tired old 60's and 70's liberation theology are dying out and instead we are being left with passionate and dedicated individuals who truely love the Church as given to us by Christ. The seminaries are filled only with those men that know the Church and know that it is worth fighting for.

The liberal clergy are dying out much in the same way as this article indicates that those on the left side of the political spectrum are.

East Coast Premiers and Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks supports therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research(ESCR).

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma does not support therapeutic cloning or embryonic stem cell research but instead supports a ban on the process.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie supports therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research.

Both Steve Bracks and Morris Iemma are Catholics. Although it would appear that Steve Bracks is just a 'big C Catholic'. Iemma is to be commended and supported as he has come under great pressure and criticism for reversing NSW Labor's policy on liberalising ESCR under Bob Carr.

More information here.

Editorial Note: Arnold the Pig

Last night (22/08/06) on A Current Affair(ACA), there was an article on Arnold the Pig. The owners of Arnold the Pig live in a metropolitan town and their local council is forcing them to get rid of the pig. The story had a live interview with the owner and a group of supporters from the community behind him with placards and signs. The greatest tragedy about the whole issue is the perspective. We have community rallies and interviews with the media about animal rights but almost no media coverage when un-born children are killed in the womb.

This species we call Homo Sapien Sapien needs to wake up and get some perspective. The respect we misplace on animals needs to be re-aligned on the dignity of all human life.

Same Sex Attraction (SSA)

A study in 2002 by Columbia University (here) showed that social factors seemed more prevalent in whether people tend to have SSA. The study went on to point out that there are no detectable genetic conditions so far that determine SSA. Another interesting factor is that according to narth.com, it appears to be more scientific than previous studies on the issue. Previously they have generally used volunteers which is not considered to be the best way of obtaining a sample of the population.

Does this mean that it is SSA is caused by social factors and not genetic factors? No, not necessarily. Very little is truely known about SSA and there is a strong likelihood that it is a combination of both. Perhaps in some cases it is only genetic and in some cases it is social. Essentially from the Church's position, it doesn't matter. There are many things in the world that make us imperfect as a direct result of original sin. We were created as perfect humans in the beginning but when we rejected God, the consequences were that we were separated from God and this resulted in many imperfections in the human race. Death is one example, heart disease and cancer are others just to name a few. Interestingly heart disease can be genetic, but no one seeks to promote heart disease or advocate 'the acceptance' of its affects.

The Church uses the words that it SSA is 'objectively disordered', but what does this mean? Princeton University defines "objective" as 'undistorted by emotion or personal bias; based on observable phenomena' (here). Disordered in this sense means outside of order. So the church believes that if we look at homosexuality in an unemotive light, we can see that it is outside of order. How does the church come to this conclusion? Let's firstly look at the issue from a purely biological point of view. Do we, as a species, need sexual attraction? Yes we need sexual attraction to ensure the survival of our species. Every single species on the planet has, as one of their man aims, reproduction. Whether it be sexual or asexual reproduction. Fundamentals of nature such as this are quite often indications of the 'Natural Law' that the Church views as being clear evidence of God's will, design and plan. Secondly, looking beyond the purely biological point of view, God's command in Genesis to the first humans was to 'be fruitful and multiply'. So from God's command we can also deduce that it is important to continue to multiply. This rules out reproduction (ie. sex) as being an evil consequence of Original Sin such as described above with regard to heart disease and death. So how are we to fulfill our biological aims and Divine commands? Sexual intercourse.

If SSA was natural then it would be a characteristic of all people (or at least those with an ordered sexuality) leading to the demise and extinction of the Human Race. Definitively contrary to the rest of nature and definitively contrary to the will of God. As humans need to reproduce sexually (ie not asexually) it is clear that our sexuality needs to be ordered in such away to fulfill the objectives illustrated above. This is the clearest indication of what 'the order' ought to be. In this sense SSA is objectively disordered.

Further, from Church and biblical perspective, in Genesis, God saw Adam was lonely and made a partner for him, but God did not make another male. God made a female for him. This very act can be taken no other way than that man and woman were made for each other.

New Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

The new Compendium is out on the Vatican website and can be found here.

Teenager's crucifix banned from school

Featured in The Age and Australian Media was this story;

Teenager's crucifix banned from school
A Christian teenager has been banned from wearing a crucifix by her school.
Jamie Derman, 17, told News Ltd newspapers she was stunned when told to remove her crucifix or she could be suspended.
A Sunbury Downs Secondary College student, Ms Derman's cross is outlawed as part of the multicultural college's new rules on jewellery and dress.
But churches has criticised the ban, saying it discouraged students' religious aspirations.
Ms Derman said she felt discriminated against.
"I am angry, confused and upset," she said.
"I honestly believe I should be allowed to acknowledge (my Christianity). Being told to take it off hurts. It cuts really deep."
The cross had sentimental value because her baptism gifts were missing, Ms Derman said.
"I can't understand why it is not all right for me to wear a cross," she said.
"I honestly felt like crying." Her father, Gordon, said the ban was the equivalent of ordering a female Muslim student to take off a religious head dress.
"Nobody should take offence to anybody wearing a religious sign," Mr Derman said. "She has a right to wear it. I believe it is discriminatory. If we had a Muslim girl come wearing a headscarf, nobody would say `boo' about it."
A reasonable demonstration of one's faith was something Australians should rejoice in, said Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne auxiliary bishop Christopher Prouse. "People's religious aspirations need to be respected," Bishop Prouse said.
Sunbury Downs principal Brett Moore said teachers had enforced the new dress code. "It is not my decision, it is the policy," he said. "Necklaces should not be visible"

Correction to this story, it was actually a cross NOT a crucifix! But hey, who's counting?!
Another typical story of political correctness gone crazy.

Yoga

Visit here.

Very, very funny!

Illogical Abortion

The great majority of people in Australia would be in favour of abortion in one way or another. Whether it be those saying 'well, it should only be allowed for early term fetuses' or those who say 'in the case of rape or incest it should be allowed at any stage'. Further to this, I find that deep down these people actually know there is something fundamentally wrong with it by the mere fact that also the great majority of people would say 'I would never have it, but it should be available in extreme circumstances'. This tends to be an implicit acknowledgement of the real evil of abortion. If there was nothing wrong with it then why would so many people say they themselves would never have it?
There is no doubt that abortion is a mass genocide on a larger scale than the Jewish Holocaust of WWII.

I wish to address the irrational argument of what I perceived to be the reasoning of the majority of people who are in favour of it. Robert P George addressed this well in a comical letter to First Things:

'I am personally opposed to killing abortionists. However, inasmuch as my personal opposition to this practice is rooted in a sectarian (Catholic) religious belief in the sanctity of human life, I am unwilling to impose it on others who may, as a matter of conscience, take a different view. Of course, I am entirely in favor of policies aimed at removing the root causes of violence against abortionists. Indeed, I would go so far as to support mandatory one-week waiting periods, and even nonjudgmental counseling, for people who are contemplating the choice of killing an abortionist. I believe in policies that reduce the urgent need some people feel to kill abortionists while, at the same time, respecting the rights of conscience of my fellow citizens who believe that the killing of abortionists is sometimes a tragic necessity-not a good, but a lesser evil. In short, I am moderately pro-choice. '

Why Vegetarians Should Be Allowed to Eat Meat

Allow me to delve into the logic of liberal Catholicism:

"Why Vegetarians Should Be Allowed to Eat Meat
by Dan Coyne

How can any father look his four-year-old son in the eye and tell him that he cannot be both a practicing vegetarian and a hot dog lover? Why should a working mom, who is deeply committed to the principles of vegetarianism, feel guilty simply for snacking on an occasional beef jerky? How can any movement or organization systematically exclude those who, for medical reasons, must eat a diet rich in poultry and beef?
For a long time these questions haunted me until one day I stumbled upon the answer - Vegetarians for a Free Choice. Tossing off the shackles of the traditional vegetarian movement, Vegetarians for a Free Choice seeks to bring "choice" back to eating.
For too long, an extremist group of anti-meat ideologues has attempted to dictate what defines vegetarianism. These extremists and their overly legalistic view of vegetarianism have discouraged many of us from joining a movement we might otherwise find appealing. In fact, recent polls indicate that over 72% of those who currently consider themselves non-vegetarians would consider becoming vegetarians if they were simply permitted to retain the right to eat meat.
Well, those of us who would like to become a vegetarian while still having an occasional Big Mac now have an option - Vegetarians for a Free Choice. VFC is a nonjudgmental, nondiscriminatory vegetable eating organization open to meat eaters and non-meat eaters alike. VFC respects your personal "right to choose" when it comes to making meat eating decisions. VFC believes it is your right to define what vegetarianism means to you.
As expected, the zealots in the anti-meat-eating wing of the vegetarian movement have already risen up to condemn VFC. "This cafeteria style vegetarianism is completely bogus," they claim. "You cannot pick and choose your own rules for being a vegetarian." Aside from being completely undemocratic, these critics ignore numerous inconsistencies already existing in the movement.
Some of the so-called leaders eat fish, while others do not. Some of the so-called leaders eat animal products like milk and cheese, while others do not. Who, then, are these hypocrites to tell me I can no longer continue to eat my cheese steaks while still calling myself a vegetarian? No longer should we allow these unelected vegetarian leaders to impose upon us their outmoded notions of vegetarianism.
Vegetarianism should be open to all Americans regardless of their eating habits or preferences. Discrimination based upon what one eats is just as pernicious as racism, sexism or homophobia. It is time to set aside our own personal biases when it comes to eating and establish a vegetarian movement we can all be proud of. Now is the time for a more inclusive and tolerant vegetarianism.
Thanks to VFC, Americans no longer have to choose between their Vegetarianism and their fried chicken. They can have both. I encourage all of you to sponsor a Vegetarians for Choice Pig Roast in your local community. If interested, you can even e-mail me for my wife's famous Spotted Owl Casserole recipe."

New Miracles for Mary Mackillop

Cathnews.com reported that the vice postulator for Blessed Mary MacKillop's (BMM) cause for cannonisation has received a great number of people coming forward claiming to have been helped through the intercession of BMM in recent weeks. Apparently many more people were encouraged to come forward after the media reported that the Delezio family believed to have prayed to BMM. The Delezio family had a daughter, Sophie, who had been hit by a car in recent months. There was great media coverage over Sophie's plight as she was badly burnt by fire a couple of years earlier. Sophie Delezio is a young girl aged about 7 years old, so one can only hope and pray that she has had her fair share of suffering for her life.
The father is a very loving man and the family are apparently extremely strong in their time of suffering. Herald Sun columnist, Andrew Bolt, has called for Mr Delezio to be named the father of the year.

News article here

Interesting to note the Sister who is the vice postulator for Blessed Mary MacKillop's cause for cannonisation isn't wearing her habit in the above article. Hmmm, maybe they caught her in the morning before she had a chance to put it on or better yet, maybe habits are old, out-of-date, 'pre-vatican II'.

Another staff member for CA!

Following last week's developments with regards to a new staff member, Catholic Australia has landed another big win in the past days. We have been able to secure another staff member of the team and look forward to his posts over the coming weeks.
Once again contractual and legal issues prevent us from naming the staff member as yet! Another 'member' of the Catholic intelligentsia and also well known in Melbourne Catholic circles. He enters the ring with a Bachelor of Law (with Honours) and will be the residential expert in legal issues and Canon Law matters. He also has a Bachelor of Commerce with a Major in Management and will be most insightful in matters relating to our business community.

Welcome to the team, another yet un-named new staffer!

PS. I can assure you that one day we will stop talking about the staff and get on with substantial posts!

New Staff Member for Catholic Australia (CA)

Catholic Australia has landed a big win in the past days. We have been able to secure another staff member of the team and look forward to his posts over the coming weeks. Due to contractual obligations and unfinished legal issues, the name of the new staffer cannot be published at present, however, we can give some details on him (yes, a male).

He is highly regarded in Catholic intelligentsia and is well known in Melbourne Catholic circles. He enters the ring with a Bachelor of Engineering (graduating with Honors) and will be the residential expert in science and physics matters and their relation to our faith. He also has a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Indonesian and will be most insightful in matters relating to our closest Muslim neighbour.

Welcome to the team, as yet un-named new staffer!

Censorship gone mad

Over the past weeks there has been a post on this site that was both fair and balanced reporting, however, it seems that not everyone thought so. Liz (not her real name) has asked Catholic Australia to remove the post from the blog. The content of the article included a glowing report of a Melbourne Catholic, Liz (not her real name).

In charity and the goodness of our hearts (black as they may be!) Catholic Australia has decided to remove the post. If anyone is outraged by this please make it known in the comments section.