A leading Catholic Church spokesman says he worries that Catholic officials and other pro-life advocates who speak out against abortion may find themselves in legal trouble in the future. That concern is exacerbated by an Amnesty International survey of its members about whether it should change its position from neutrality to supporting abortion.

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The Catholic Church restated its opposition to embryonic stem cell research on Wednesday saying it plans to excommunicate scientists who conduct it because it involves the destruction of human life. Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo made the comments to an Italain Christian magazine.

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GLASGOW, Scotland (Catholic Online) – Teachers in Catholic schools need to embrace the faith in their thoughts, in their lives and in their teaching, a Scottish bishop told university graduating education students.

Speaking on behalf of the bishop of Scotland, Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley made the remarks during a June 26, 2006, graduation Mass for the post-graduate degree Catholic students at University of Glasgow.

"It is important, in fact essential, for the authenticity of Catholic education, that you are Catholic to your fingertips in the way you think and in the way you live," he said.

"I hope you will not just be a teacher with a job in a Catholic school, but a Catholic teacher who teaches in a Catholic school,� Bishop Tartaglia said. “It is not enough to put on a Catholic facade when you walk through the doors of the school and to satisfy the demands of your contract."

Catholic schools, he said, have shown "time and time again… to bring out the very best in children and young people."

He urged the teachers to deepen their knowledge of the Catholic faith in order to "deliver the curriculum with full conviction, and indeed, where necessary, go beyond the curriculum and even make up for it where it may be lacking."

"Never be afraid to follow your instinct of faith as a Catholic," he added.

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Pope Benedict XVI is close to announcing that a 19th-century Indiana nun will become America's eighth Catholic saint, The Indianapolis Star reported.

The Vatican said Friday the Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin -- who founded the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods near Terre Haute -- is one of four people whose dates for canonization are expected to be announced when the pope meets with Roman cardinals July 1, the newspaper said.

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This is kinda long, but it is a pretty thorough analysis of the birth rates of various parts of the world. He uses a multi-disciplinary approach (from the economic to the anthropological) that explains why children are a blessing, way beyond the simple biblical injunction.

Right now, the answer, with a few exceptions, is no. The data Longman and Wattenberg present are compelling. Since the 1950’s, the total fertility rate (TFR) in Europe has fallen from 2.7 to 1.38—an astounding 34 percent below the replacement rate of 2.1, which is the average number of children per couple needed for a society to sustain itself. Japan’s fertility rate is 1.32, and its average age is already forty-two years and climbing. (The world average, by comparison, is in the mid-twenties.) A large number of nations, including Russia, Spain, Italy, South Korea, and the Czech Republic, have TFR’s between 1.0 and 1.3; some of these nations (most notably Russia) are already experiencing rapid population decline. Generations of children are growing up without brothers or sisters, and a sizable percentage of men and women in the most advanced nations will never have any children at all.

...

The consequences of the birth dearth now worry people of every imaginable political, religious, and ideological stripe. One major set of worries is economic. In a 2004 study commissioned by the European Union, the Rand Corporation warned that “declines in human capital� are regularly accompanied by potential reductions in productivity, consequent burdens on “pension and social-insurance systems,� and, with smaller households, a decreasing ability “to care for the growing elderly population.� In other words: fewer workers, more retirees, and a fiscal crisis for the European welfare state.

...

Other cultural dangers loom as well. Once today’s childless generations grow old, they will face the prospect of their own mortality without children to care for them, comfort them, and mourn them. As the personal freedom of the past ends in isolation, euthanasia may come to seem the most rational, or perhaps the only plausible, solution to the debilities of old age. Not only that, but the old will die with little assurance that the faith of their fathers will persist after them, from generation to generation.

...

In the most modern parts of the modern world, however, three aspects of fertility do seem historically unprecedented and clearly important. First, there is no stigma attached to being childless; a woman’s worth, in this life or the next, is not judged adversely if she chooses never to have children. Second, children are no longer economic assets, as they generally were in rural and early industrial societies; rather, they are economic burdens, voracious consumers who produce virtually nothing until their late teens or early twenties. Third, fertility control is now both uneventful and virtually absolute. Those who want to avoid having children can easily do so—without restraining their natural sex drive, without putting themselves at physical risk, and without resorting to infanticide or abortion.

...

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The 25-year-old Indian Catholic youth still springs surprises as he tries to imitate his role model, Saint Francis of Assisi. Four months ago, he donned a long jute garment, which he wears even during hot summer days. He keeps only one change of clothing and goes around barefoot.

When UCA News spoke with D'Souza in late May, he explained he was trying "to do penance for his sins and the sins of his friends." On June 20, however, he spoke of a subsequent revelation that he should discard the "garment of distress" and put on the "garment of righteousness."

This revelation he interpreted as God telling him he should wear the sackcloth not as a sign of penance but as a sign of joy.

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The U.S. bishops reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s support for adult stem-cell research and opposition to research that destroys human life at a June 20, 2006, Capital Hill press conference here.

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Here is a great example a diocese promoting vocations:

All Catholic young men who are serious about their faith ask themselves at some point: Is God calling me to be a priest? They see in the priest one who has dedicated his life in a particular way to Christ and to the service of His People. The priesthood is Christ's gift to the world. Nothing is more natural than for a young man to think: Is Christ offering this gift to me?

The ministry of the priest in the Church is vital and irreplaceable. He preaches God�s word to the people of our time so that they may find true freedom in Christ. He offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the salvation of the world and gives to the faithful the Body and Blood of Christ to strengthen and heal them. He exercises leadership under the Bishop so that our communities may enjoy unity. He works with lay people, building them up through his ministry and in turn experiencing support from them.

A sign that God is calling a man to serve Him as a priest is that the thought keeps returning to his mind. This is because the Holy Spirit is at work within his depths, gently but urgently prompting him to discover God's will. These web pages are designed for men in the Diocese of Leeds who feel that God may be calling them in this way.

Click here to see this web page specifically designed for young men who think they may have a vocation to the Priesthood.

Thanks to A Penitent Blogger for the link.

Rev. Thomas Reese's track record is clear on one thing: he's for anything that makes Mass less reverent.

Roman Catholics nationwide could see some of the most sweeping changes to Mass in four decades under a proposal that goes before American bishops on Thursday.

At the behest of the Vatican, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will vote on a new translation for the Order of the Mass that adheres more closely to the Latin version.

The new translation would the alter the wording of 12 of the 19 texts spoken by Catholics during worship, including the Nicene Creed, the Gloria, the Penitential Rite, the Sanctus and Communion.

All of a sudden, Bishop's who have wanted to change the church, are now arguing against changing the liturgy...

"My big concern is people are going to feel like they're being jerked around. They finally got used to the English translation and now they have to get used to another translation," said Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University and a Jesuit priest.

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Today we have a conversation with Father Steve Sallot on “All you wanted to know about being a pastor but were afraid to ask�.

Father Sallot is one of four children raised in the Santa Ana/Tustin area (north Orange county) where his family still resides. Ordained a diocesan priest in 1980, he has ministered in several great parishes in Orange County, including Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, St. Angela Merici in Brea, and Santiago de Compostela in Lake Forest. In 1992, he returned to his high school alma mater, Mater Dei High School. (Which by the way is the only high school to have produced two Heisman trophy winners, Matt Leinhart 2004 and Jon Huerte in 1964) He spent ten years there as Rector.

In 2002, he became the pastor of St. Edward the Confessor in Dana Point, a parish of approximately 5000 families.

• John 15:18-21
• Background about Father Steve Sallot's Parish, St. Edward.
• How being a Pastor is different than what he expected.
• There is a secondary vocation to be "Pastor".
• As a Pastor, you cannot be a "solo" act, although their are some other priestly roles that could allow for that.
• Canon law dictates the role and responsibilities of a Pastor.
• The importance of reflection and thoughtfulness in a Pastor.
• How the management of a Parish differs from managing other secular enterprises.
• An example of a typical day for a Pastor.
• How to maintain one's interior spiritual life in the midst of the busy life of running a Parish.
• The social environment in the rectory.
• The level of interaction between the parish and the Bishop.
• How to evaluate the feedback that emanates from the congregation.
• A good parish priest tries to listen to people while also making sure that everything fits in the "norms of the Church".
• Commenting on another priests style requires care and sensitivity.
• The role of performance appraisals for priests.
• The role of the Parish Council.
• There is an old saying among priests, "I would rather do (10) funerals than (1) wedding".
• It's hard for a priest to perform a sacrament when there isn't faith in the community.
• How a Pastor looks out for the spiritual life of his fellow priests.

This week's Catholic Carnival is up at CowPi Journal.

(The Catholic Carnival, for those who are not familiar with it, is a collection of the best blog posts from Catholic-centric blogs.)

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Gates had been smoking marijuana all day, every day, since she was 15, but now at 29, she says she is finally clean and hoping to stay that way. And she says she has Catholic Social Services of Wayne County and its substance abuse program to thank.

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The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights concludes, in their June issue of Catalyst, that there is no demographic group or profession in the United States today that has less of a problem with the sexual abuse of minors than the Catholic Church. The Catholic League reports that there were a total of only nine credible accusations for the entire year of 2005 and that only 0.02 percent of priests in 2005 had credible accusations.

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A federal appeals court has upheld the firing of a Catholic school teacher who publicly supported the Roe v. Wade decision in a newspaper ad.

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According to "The Qualifications of an Orangeman," the rules governing the all-male membership of the Orange Order, a member "should strenuously oppose the fatal errors and doctrines of the church of Rome and scrupulously avoid countenancing (by his presence or otherwise) any act of ceremony of popish worship; he should by all lawful means resist the ascendancy of that church, its encroachments and the extension of its power, ever abstaining from all uncharitable words, actions or sentiments, toward his Roman Catholic brethren."

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If a theme emerges from these various entries, it has got to be that Christians can live extraordinary lives in the midst of the world. From the Maximilian Kolbe and the Nazi's to Religious freedom and Kneeling in Orange County, all that we are trying to do is live our faith.

Note: These links will all open up in their own browser window and this page will remain open in the background.

Religious Freedom at Home and Abroad is discussed at Roft Raft. US Legislation and Muslim beliefs are among many of the parts of an essential, but sometimes forgotten, element of Christianity.

Is anybody in the The Ongoing Drama at St. Mary's by the Sea acting in Christian Charity? (from Kicking Over My Traces).

The The Economics of Life are discussed by the Part Time Pundit. The fight against the valuation of human life is the next big Pro-Life challenge. Because when you start applying values to life, some people will inevitably come up short.

Our friends at Living Catholicism comments on Quality of Life & The Age of Materialism. Do we really know what "quality of life" is?

DeoOmnisGloria.com investigates and clarifies the background for the Mormon beliefs in regards to polygamy in Mormons and Polygamy: Do the Latter Day Saints believe in Plural Marriage?

Peter got it, Judas didn't. Take a look at The Heart of Forgiveness (from Our Word and Welcome to It) to hear a perspective on Pentecost, Peter and forgiveness.

The Perfect Work of A Single Note is discussed. How do we pray, what is our motivation? Does the perfect prayer require a perfect soul?

A trinity of three word, titles: Unity, Forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit; ONE SPIRIT, ONE LORD, ONE GOD; from Heart, Mind and Strength.

Adoro Te Devote is just sick and tired of others who feel compelled to talk about what should only be happening to between and husband and wife in their marital bed. Because, after all, Sex and Marriage are Sacred.

The Secrets of Self-improvement are revealed by our Penitent Blogger.

Lastly, we can thank Toward Contemplation for providing the Pope's thoughts while visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps during is recent visit to Germany in The valley of the shadow of death.

Very entertaining....

According to the account in the Christ Museum next to the tombs, Christ arrived in Japan at the age of 21 and learnt Japanese before returning to Judaea 12 years later to engage in his mission and preach about the “holy land of Japan�. The official Shingo history is that Jesus’s place on the Cross was “casually� taken by his brother, leaving Christ free to return to Japan. On his return he fell in love with Miyuko, a local girl, and lived happily with his family among the rice fields until dying aged 106.

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He prayed the Catholic movements would "grow ever more numerous," while ensuring the Gospel's wisdom was "brought in a mature way, not childishly or aggressively, to the world of culture and work, to the world of the media and politics, to the world of the family and social life."

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Tony Blair, his wife, Cherie, and their children will have an audience with Pope Benedict in the Vatican today, raising expectations that he will convert to the Roman Catholic faith when he stands down as Prime Minister.

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A federal judge has dismissed a Roman Catholic pharmacist's claim that he was fired by Wal-Mart Stores Inc for refusing to fill birth control prescriptions and that the dismissal violated his religious freedom.

The ruling Thursday said Wal-Mart had accommodated Neil Noesen's religious opposition to birth control by having other pharmacists fill prescriptions.

But US District Judge John Shabaz said Noesen went too far by putting customers who called about birth control on hold indefinitely and by refusing to get service for those who showed up in person.

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With the question in mind of what should be done during a war, let us consider the untraditional but very bloody war that is being waged today in Asia against unborn girls. The introduction of sonogram technology in Asia has resulted in the practice of aborting girls there en masse. In China, for example, recent statistics indicate that for every 100 girls that were born, 117 boys were born. It is said that if this disparity continues, by 2020 -- only 14 years from now -- there will be 40 million more men than women in China (which correlates to millions more girls than boys killed).

...

But what can feminists like Ms Clinton say about sex selection abortion given their commitment to the so-called “right to an abortion�? Some feminists on the left say, not very loudly, that sex selection abortion is wrong, and is permissible to outlaw, because it discriminates based on sex. However, they cannot vigorously assert this argument without jeopardising the “right to an abortion� because the logic of the argument completely undermines that so-called “right.� If an unborn girl has the right not to be discriminated against, she necessarily also has the more fundamental right to life. And if unborn girls have the right to life, it necessarily follows that all unborn children, whether male or female, have the same right.

...

Given the renowned commitment of pro-choice feminists to abortion and the far- reaching pro-life implications of any argument against sex selection abortion, it is sadly predictable that pro-choice feminists raise no loud protest against the extermination of the female gender in Asia. Men and women bear equal responsibility for ending this extermination (and all other abortion). But if feminism means anything it means protecting interests that are unique to the female gender. And what greater interest does the female gender uniquely have than that of being defended against systematic extermination? Incredible as it may seem, pro-choice feminists believe there is a greater interest and that that greater interest is abortion -- the very means by which the war of extermination against the female gender is being conducted. What other conclusion can be drawn from their silence concerning sex selection abortion? The practice of aborting girls in Asia supplements an older tradition of infanticide that for millennia was practiced against girls and disabled children. It is beyond ironic that there are feminists who aggressively support a means of extending and perpetuating this barbaric ancient tradition on a mass scale.

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Here is an interesting take on the whole Kneeling/Mortal Sin controversy in Orange County, CA

The story in question is about a parish in the Diocese of Orange where the new priest has--among other things--forbidden people to kneel following the Agnus Dei, and a huge controversy has erupted.

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This week's Catholic Carnival is up at Living Catholicism.

(The Catholic Carnival, for those who are not familiar with it, is a collection of the best blog posts from Catholic-centric blogs.)

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