Amalfi: Saint Andrew's Tomb

The Amalfi Coast

The relics of Saint Andrew are enshrined at the cathedral of Amalfi, richly endowed through the wealth of the former Maritime Republic which established this town as its seat.

Natural bridge formation is typical of the rocky coastline and the neighboring islands which include the most well-known, Capri.

Gothic lace carvings on the cathedral porch frame the views of Amalfi.

The fine pebble beach results from the work of water and waves over many years.

Hundreds of steps lead down from the road to Santa Croce beach. The reward of a swim in the clear water is worth the effort.

Photos by MCITL.

"Raising Pure Teens": talking to your teen about chastity

Have a hard time connecting with your teenager about chastity? You could probably come up with a whole telephone-book-sized list of activities you’d rather be doing than talking to your teenagers about sex.

In today’s culture, though, who can afford to raise their children without the truth about human sexuality? With the “pornification” of everything from adolescent fashions to primetime television commercials, who can take a chance on withholding from kids the real score on human sexuality?

As your children’s primary educators, it’s your right and duty to make sure your children are forearmed and forewarned when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex in a Catholic way and resisting the secular world’s false vision of sexuality.

In "Raising Pure Teens", noted chastity speakers Jason Evert and Chris Stefanick incorporate the Church’s wisdom with 10 proven strategies for talking with teens about chastity. They offer a perfect blend of humor and sobriety, real-life stories and effective metaphors, cutting-edge science and undeniable logic.

Once you read "Raising Pure Teens", you’ll realize you’re not alone in bringing these beautiful truths to your teens—and you won’t be alone as you help them implement these teachings in their own lives Once you read Raising Pure Teens, you’ll realize you’re not alone in bringing these beautiful truths to your teens—and you won’t be alone as you help them implement these teachings in their own lives.

For more info and to purchase the book, click this link to visit Catholic.com.

When you tell me

When you tell me my Faith is a "religion" and put it in a bucket with everything else you deem similar I would be insulted if I didn't have Faith.

When you tell me "don't whip it out in public and start waving it around" I take it as a compliment because my Faith is supposed to be evident.

When you tell me to "stop trying to shove it down people's throats" that's a personal problem. I can't help you with that. God can, though.

But only if you have Faith.

((((..))))

Vatican to Take Legal Action against Benetton

Posted on November 18, 2011 by SBrinkmann

A communique released today from the Vatican Secretariat of State indicates that the Vatican is pursing legal action to stop the promulgation of an offensive portrayal of Pope Benedict XVI in a global advertising campaign launched by Italian clothing giant, Benetton.

“The Secretariat of State has authorized its lawyers to initiate actions, in Italy and elsewhere, to prevent the circulation, via the mass media and in other ways, of a photomontage used in a Benetton advertising campaign in which the Holy Father appears in a way considered to be harmful, not only to the dignity of the Pope and the Catholic Church, but also to the sensibility of believers,” the Vatican said in a statement.

The Benetton ad campaign, dubbed “Unhate,” features a montage of world leaders kissing each other. The pontiff is shown kissing Ahmed Mohamed el Tayeb, the imam of the al Azhar mosque in Eqypt, and President Barack Obama is shown kissing both Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez as well as Chinese Premier Hu Jintao. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is depicted kissing Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas.

Even though Benetton agreed to pull the offensive photo, the Vatican wants to take legal steps to be sure the pope’s image is not used in this way again.

“We cannot but express a resolute protest at the entirely unacceptable use of a manipulated image of the Holy Father, used as part of a publicity campaign which has commercial ends,” said Holy See Press Office Director Father Federico Lombardi, S.J.

“It is a serious lack of respect for the Pope, an affront to the feelings of the faithful and an evident demonstration of how, in the field of advertising, the most elemental rules of respect for others can be broken in order to attract attention by provocation.

“The Secretariat of State is examining the steps that may be taken with the competent authorities in order to guarantee adequate protection for the figure of the Holy Father.”

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Pro-Life Saturdays: "Sexual Healing" and respect for life through chastity

Vocation Thursdays: Workers of the Vineyard

“Workers of the Vineyard” is a Diocesan Religious Congregation of consecrated Chaldean women of the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle, USA, who have promised their gifts for dedicated service to Christ and his Church in order that they might grow in holiness by filling the needs of the Diocese and their community, as directed by the Eparchial Bishop.

You can friend Workers of the Vineyard on Facebook by clicking this link.

Find out more about "Workers of the Vineyard" by clicking this link to visit their website.

Religious Freedom: Statement from the Maryland Bishops

Bishops of Maryland Raise Concern over Erosion of Religious Freedom

Date:

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

In a joint statement released today, Maryland’s bishops call on Catholics and all Marylanders to reaffirm and uphold America’s First Freedom and the foundational principles upon which its democratic society is built. “Religious liberty – a right rooted in our human dignity and protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – is being silently and subtly eroded,” wrote the bishops of Maryland in the statement. “[I]n recent years there has been a subtle promotion of the idea that religious liberty should be restricted to Sunday morning worship.”

The Most Sacred of All Property: Religious Freedom and the People of Maryland is signed by Washington Archbishop Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Baltimore Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, and Wilmington Bishop W. Francis Malooly. The statement was issued with input from a task force chaired by John Garvey, President of The Catholic University of America, that included experts in legal, theological, and historical issues.

“Religious liberty is the most important civil rights issue of our time. This thoughtful statement by the Maryland Catholic bishops is a reminder of the role it has played in our history, and of the continuing need to cherish and protect it,” noted Garvey. The statement will be distributed to Maryland’s nearly 280 Catholic parishes and other Catholic institutions, as well as to all of Maryland’s state and Congressional elected officials.

Click here to read the full statement by Maryland's Bishops.

Click here for an interactive PDF of Religious Freedom and the People of Maryland: A Statement from the Catholic Bishops of Maryland

Click here for a static PDF of Religious Freedom and the People of Maryland: A Statement from the Catholic Bishops of Maryland

Watch this accompanying video to the statement on religious freedom by Cardinal Wuerl.

Press Release for the Religious Freedom Statement

Read the press release for the new Religious Freedom Statement.