“If You Deny Me Before The World”

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK

Somebody help me: I just want to know when we decide that public and prolonged rejection of the basic tenets of the Catholic faith merits an equally public acknowledgment of heresy.

When the prominent self- described Catholic wife of the governor of California, Maria Shriver, on television excoriates Christians who oppose same- sex unions, and the attempted marriage by such same- sex couples, as well as those who op­pose ordination for women, as part of a TV news series on public and professional roles for women, she, in effect, denies the faith of the Church to which she purportedly belongs. Thus the idea that Catholic faith and morals are an “ accessory” that one adapts and fashions for personal use rather than a conviction and covenant that guides all of one’s words and actions in everyday life, profes­sional and private, is perpetuated.

An aggressively pro- abortion Catholic senator, Ted Kennedy, was lionized and glorified in a pub­lic and televised Catholic funeral at which the most pro- abortion president in history eulogized him from the pulpit, which, by Catholic liturgical norms, must be approached only by a minister of the Word. Untold numbers of the faithful are fur­ther weakened and confused by such a public can­onization of a politician who was ferocious and unapologetic in his many years of promoting the legal and funded murder of unborn children.

How far does a self- described Catholic have to go down the road of scandal and outrageous pub­lic repudiation of the faith and morals of the uni­versal Church before we decide public correction becomes necessary? How much confusion must the universal flock suffer before pastors decide that consistent and public intervention has become necessary?

Apostasy, and the heresies that give rise to them, afflict the Church in this as in every age.

“In fact, ‘ in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apos­tle strongly censures as damnable. But in subse­quent centuries much more serious dissensions ap­peared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church — for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame.’ The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body — here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism — do not occur without hu­man sin: ‘ Where there are sins, there are also divi­sions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and uni­ty, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers’” ( Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 817).

We are saved by grace through faith. There are four ways in which faith might be jeopardized: “In­credulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. ‘ Heresy is the obsti­nate post- baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Chris­tian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him’” ( CCC, n. 2089).

The engines of the media machine are laboring day and night to create and perpetuate the illu­sion that those who refuse to subscribe to the fash­ionable perversions of the day have been pushed to the irrelevant margins of Church and society. Public Catholic heretics and apostates are aiding and abetting these enemies of the Church. In any public society which seeks to protect itself, under ordinary circumstances, anyone who gives aid and comfort to the enemy is summarily and effective­ly dealt with in order to protect the common good of the greater number.

The idea that those Christians are marginalized who cannot “ adapt” to the fashionable pretense that marriage can be contracted by any combina­tion of persons other than one man- husband and one woman- wife grows apace. The Christian con­fessions that repudiate the obligation to chastity considered normative for a celibate clergy are praised for their “ compassion.” Many Catholics have joined this chorus of rebellion against natu­ral and divine law.

The New York Times this week simply could not resist condescending commentary about the new Anglican ordinariate announced by Rome to serve the needs of groups of Anglicans seeking union with the universal Church. In a lead article, pub­lished the day after the Anglican pastoral provi­sion was announced, the Times insulted Anglicans, and the difficult choice many have prayerfully and with difficulty made, to enter into communion with the universal Church, by saying that they would do so only because they “ have nowhere else to go.”

Frankly, readers of the Times have many other places to go to find serious journalistic reportage about religion today. Could it be that many Anglicans are sin­cere Christians seeking to follow Christ, as the name implies, and find Him more fully present in the Church we commonly call Catholic? This possibility is cyni­cally dismissed by journalists who seem more in­tent on publishing their own opinions than objec­tively reporting on the issue by talking to the An­glicans and Catholics actually involved in the sto­ry.

The Times and other media have, in truth, mar­ginalized themselves by such superficial commen­tary which encourages readers to increasingly turn instead to other sources to find the serious engage­ment which faith merits. All of these and other indicators provide the background against which Catholics must attempt to live out their faith today.

Martyrdom will never go out of style for true believers.

(Fr. Cusick writes a weekly column for The Wanderer Catholic Newspaper. Photo of Pope Benedict at his Wednesday General Audience on 28 October 2009 by Fr. Cusick for The Wanderer.)

Archbishop Dolan on Anti-Catholicism

October 29, 2009

The following article was submitted in a slightly shorter form to the New York Times as an op-ed article. The Times declined to publish it. I thought you might be interested in reading it.

FOUL BALL!
By Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of New York

October is the month we relish the highpoint of our national pastime, especially when one of our own New York teams is in the World Series!

Sadly, America has another national pastime, this one not pleasant at all: anti-catholicism.

It is not hyperbole to call prejudice against the Catholic Church a national pastime. Scholars such as Arthur Schlesinger Sr. referred to it as “the deepest bias in the history of the American people,” while John Higham described it as “the most luxuriant, tenacious tradition of paranoiac agitation in American history.” “The anti-semitism of the left,” is how Paul Viereck reads it, and Professor Philip Jenkins sub-titles his book on the topic “the last acceptable prejudice.”

If you want recent evidence of this unfairness against the Catholic Church, look no further than a few of these following examples of occurrences over the last couple weeks:

• On October 14, in the pages of the New York Times, reporter Paul Vitello exposed the sad extent of child sexual abuse in Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish community. According to the article, there were forty cases of such abuse in this tiny community last year alone. Yet the Times did not demand what it has called for incessantly when addressing the same kind of abuse by a tiny minority of priests: release of names of abusers, rollback of statute of limitations, external investigations, release of all records, and total transparency. Instead, an attorney is quoted urging law enforcement officials to recognize “religious sensitivities,” and no criticism was offered of the DA’s office for allowing Orthodox rabbis to settle these cases “internally.” Given the Catholic Church’s own recent horrible experience, I am hardly in any position to criticize our Orthodox Jewish neighbors, and have no wish to do so . . . but I can criticize this kind of “selective outrage.”

Of course, this selective outrage probably should not surprise us at all, as we have seen many other examples of the phenomenon in recent years when it comes to the issue of sexual abuse. To cite but two: In 2004, Professor Carol Shakeshaft documented the wide-spread problem of sexual abuse of minors in our nation’s public schools (the study can be found here). In 2007, the Associated Press issued a series of investigative reports that also showed the numerous examples of sexual abuse by educators against public school students. Both the Shakeshaft study and the AP reports were essentially ignored, as papers such as the New York Times only seem to have priests in their crosshairs.

• On October 16, Laurie Goodstein of the Times offered a front page, above-the-fold story on the sad episode of a Franciscan priest who had fathered a child. Even taking into account that the relationship with the mother was consensual and between two adults, and that the Franciscans have attempted to deal justly with the errant priest’s responsibilities to his son, this action is still sinful, scandalous, and indefensible. However, one still has to wonder why a quarter-century old story of a sin by a priest is now suddenly more pressing and newsworthy than the war in Afghanistan, health care, and starvation–genocide in Sudan. No other cleric from religions other than Catholic ever seems to merit such attention.

• Five days later, October 21, the Times gave its major headline to the decision by the Vatican to welcome Anglicans who had requested union with Rome. Fair enough. Unfair, though, was the article’s observation that the Holy See lured and bid for the Anglicans. Of course, the reality is simply that for years thousands of Anglicans have been asking Rome to be accepted into the Catholic Church with a special sensitivity for their own tradition. As Cardinal Walter Kasper, the Vatican’s chief ecumenist, observed, “We are not fishing in the Anglican pond.” Not enough for the Times; for them, this was another case of the conniving Vatican luring and bidding unsuspecting, good people, greedily capitalizing on the current internal tensions in Anglicanism.

• Finally, the most combustible example of all came Sunday with an intemperate and scurrilous piece by Maureen Dowd on the opinion pages of the Times. In a diatribe that rightly never would have passed muster with the editors had it so criticized an Islamic, Jewish, or African-American religious issue, she digs deep into the nativist handbook to use every anti-Catholic caricature possible, from the Inquisition to the Holocaust, condoms, obsession with sex, pedophile priests, and oppression of women, all the while slashing Pope Benedict XVI for his shoes, his forced conscription -- along with every other German teenage boy -- into the German army, his outreach to former Catholics, and his recent welcome to Anglicans.

True enough, the matter that triggered her spasm -- the current visitation of women religious by Vatican representatives -- is well-worth discussing, and hardly exempt from legitimate questioning. But her prejudice, while maybe appropriate for the Know-Nothing newspaper of the 1850’s, the Menace, has no place in a major publication today.

I do not mean to suggest that anti-catholicism is confined to the pages New York Times. Unfortunately, abundant examples can be found in many different venues. I will not even begin to try and list the many cases of anti-catholicism in the so-called entertainment media, as they are so prevalent they sometimes seem almost routine and obligatory. Elsewhere, last week, Representative Patrick Kennedy made some incredibly inaccurate and uncalled-for remarks concerning the Catholic bishops, as mentioned in this blog on Monday. Also, the New York State Legislature has levied a special payroll tax to help the Metropolitan Transportation Authority fund its deficit. This legislation calls for the public schools to be reimbursed the cost of the tax; Catholic schools, and other private schools, will not receive the reimbursement, costing each of the schools thousands – in some cases tens of thousands – of dollars, money that the parents and schools can hardly afford. (Nor can the archdiocese, which already underwrites the schools by $30 million annually.) Is it not an issue of basic fairness for ALL school-children and their parents to be treated equally?

The Catholic Church is not above criticism. We Catholics do a fair amount of it ourselves. We welcome and expect it. All we ask is that such critique be fair, rational, and accurate, what we would expect for anybody. The suspicion and bias against the Church is a national pastime that should be “rained out” for good.

I guess my own background in American history should caution me not to hold my breath.

Then again, yesterday was the Feast of Saint Jude, the patron saint of impossible causes.

L' Udienza Generale

The Wednesday General Audience with the Holy Father

Una passeggiata Romana

A Roman stroll

An Egyptian souvenir obelisque decorates the piazza at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva with a view of the Pantheon

The plash of the fountain in the Pantheon piazza

Art imitates nature in stone and nature enlivens art
through splashing reflection of light.

Street corner shrines both shed light to discourage crime at night while reminding passersby to follow the inner "light" of faith in their daily walk of life.

A courtyard provides practical storage for cars and a faux country view for relief of the city-weary.

Tramezzini sandwiches provide a colorful gustatory temptation.

The triton has been drinking for a long time and yet remains unsated.

Architectural gems are framed by surrounding buildings.

A uniform means one is serious about business.

Hotels on the Via Veneto and the American Embassy attract foreign stars of certain stripes.

2009 MC Marathon photo

My father located the marathon photos. Too see the photos click here. Thanks, Dad.

On October 31st, join "I am 71%" at the White House

I am 71 Percent at the White House - October 31st!

Are you one of the 71 percent of Americans who doesn't want to pay for abortions? Do you live in the D.C. area or will you be here on October 31st? If your answer to either is yes, then you need to join us in a human I Am 71 display in front of the White House!

For more info visit: http://iam71.org

Roma

Sono arrivato!

I arrived this afternoon on the connecting BA flight from Heathrow at approximately 1600 local time.

My neighbors on the plane were a couple from Texas, he Church of Christ and she raised a Catholic. She said she has a problem with the pope because he lives in the Vatican surrounded by all that splendor, or something to that effect. You already know the old line well, "Sell the Vatican, feed the poor", right? Well, the only problem is: it was the poor that built the Vatican! IT GAVE THEM A PLACE TO GO TO GET AWAY FROM THEIR HOVELS! It gave them a sign here on earth by which to hope for the mansion God has prepared for them in heaven. The truth is, "Sell the Vatican and take away the hope of the poor".

We believe in the Lord who said, "Man does not live on bread alone". Man lives on hope, and hope is founded on God, and the Basilica of Saint Peter and every work of man raised to the glory of God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ His Son in the power and life of the Holy Spirit is a sign of hope for mankind, a milemarker upon his slow and sometimes painful march to the kingdom of God and the reward prepared for him from the foundation of the world.

And what of the many, rich and poor, who come, sometimes with difficulty, to see the vast collection of fine art and other treasures of the Vatican? Are they to be denied the privilege because of a false and insincere opposition set up by enemies of Christ and His Church between preserving this opportunity and the need and duty to feed the poor? Would not the devil love this? Man does not live on bread alone! He also needs hope! We can, and must, both feed the poor AND preserve the patrimony of mankind. This the Vatican does, under the leadership of our Holy Father and all those who assist him.

Oh, by the way, my neighbor on the plane admitted that if she had been catechised to understand her faith better she might have remained Catholic. Are you listening, catechists?

Arrivederci

Departing tonight on a trip to bella Italia. Please check back this week for photos and news.

Our Lady of Loreto, pray for us.

Official Finish Time 4:07

My MC Marathon official finish time is 04:07:55 (NET), Pace: 9:27. The D-tag, attached to the laces of my right shoe, began timing my run at the moment I crossed the start line, approximately 8 mins after the gun start.

Thank you for your support and for visiting APL.

Finish

Alleluia!

A new kind of pain...

Marathon prayer: 26 "Hail Marys" & a "Glory Be"

4:16 "gun time".

Thanks be to God & all your prayers.

2009 MC Marathon Tribute run for John Renehan

For the purposes of the 2009 Marine Corps Marathon I am JOHN RENEHAN. Sorry, John. It is a long story, and we are trying to keep things positive here, so no explanation will be offered via the blog at this time.

My classmate from the Pallotti H. S. class of 1980 has participated in the past with the "Run for Vocations" team at the Marine Corps Marathon but was unable to do so this year. In tribute to John I have decided to run my first Marathon in his name.

This means that tomorrow I will be John Renehan for the purposes of tracking my time and bib number. Friends and family should type in John's first and last name to track my performance.

Thanks for the kindness of your prayers!

Please help support the families of the fallen: a note from Olivia Murphy-Sweet

Friends -

I share this note from the daughter of a Navy friend, CDR Phil Murphy-Sweet, who died in action in Iraq. She is running the Marine Marathon 10K race with her brother Seth tomorrow in honor of their father.

Perhaps you will be moved to help support TAPS. Whether or not you do so, please pray for the Murphy-Sweets and all those who have lost family members serving our country.

Thank you.

Here is Olivia's note:

"Dear Father Cusick,

"I am raising money on behalf of the TAPS organization that we used after my father died. I am running the 10K race in Washington DC with my brother Seth in honor of our dad, CDR Philip Murphy-Sweet.

"By being a member of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) “2008 Run and Remember Team” I am raising money and awareness to help support the loved ones of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this great country. This year, I will be running in memory of my dad, CDR Philip Murphy-Sweet. Please help me to honor their memory by supporting me in this race. Visit my website and make your contribution today!

"The funds I raise will flow directly into TAPS programming such as a 24 hour crisis and information hotline, peer support, Survivor Seminars and Good Grief Camps for both adults and children. No contribution is too big or too small. For example, your $250 donation could cover the cost of one child’s attendance to a TAPS Good Grief Camp, where he or she can work through their grief with other children and family members who share their journey. For a $50 donation, you could furnish a TAPS survivor care package to a newly grieving family.

"In addition to the hotline, peer support, seminars and camps, TAPS also offers a quarterly magazine, newsletters and a weekly chat line. TAPS provides these services at no charge to every branch of the service, including the Reserves and the National Guard. TAPS’ programs and services are available not only for spouses and children, but also for parents, siblings, fiancées, and friends.

"So please help me help the TAPS families in need by visiting my website and making your donation today. Let us honor those who have died on October 25, 2008.

"Many Thanks,
Olivia Murphy-Sweet"

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support TAPS

2009 MC Marathon: More thanks to sponsors

Thanks goes to additional sponsors Regina P. and the Doye family: Erik, Lydia and sons. Holy Mass will be celebrated for these and all my sponsors for the Marathon at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome later this month.

For more info about how you can prayerfully consider sponsoring me as I "Run for Vocations" tomorrow in the Marine Corps Marathon click here. Thank you.

Thank you

- to my sponsors for the MC Marathon: Richard and Mary C., Gretchen G., Genna W., Mary Ann H., Kay S., Anonymous, and the McDonnell family of Saint Peter's parish in Olney: Tim, Lisa, Matthew, Chris, Elizabeth, Sophia, Francis and Baby # 6, Wayne J., Sheila Z., Dan and Maureen W.

- to the school children of Jesus the Divine Word Parish for the gift of their prayers and hand made card on the occasion of the Year for Priests

- to the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration on 13th St. N.E., for prayers.

- to Sue W. of Huntingtown for your kind card expressing prayers for the Year for Priests.

- to Fr Dan Leary for the holy hour you offered for me to mark the Year for Priests.

- to the people of Saint Edward the Confessor Church for including my name in your parish bulletin to ask for prayers to mark the "Year of the Priest"

May you receive the reward of your kindness from the only One Who is good.

Somewhere life's a beach

God provided my gym here on Wednesday for running 4 miles in prep for the MC Marathon and also my chapel for praying the Breviarium Romanum with the sand for a pew and the sun for a lamp.

Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro!

"A Run for Your Money": $375 to go

Thanks to another donor, G., we have $375 to go.

For information on how to sponsor me as I "Run for Vocations" in the
Marine Corps Marathon on 25 October please click here.

Thank you for visiting APL.

((((..))))

"A Run for Your Money": $475 to go

Hello and thank you for visiting APL.
In response to my request yesterday I have received my first pledge of
sponsorship for the running of the MC Marathon 25 October: $475 to go.
Will you prayerfully consider also sponsoring me?
For details please pagedown to yesterday's post about this.
Thanks and God bless you,
Fr C

"because they have nowhere else to go"?

The NYT simply cannot resist condescending comment about the new Anglican-use dispensation announced yesterday by Rome.

It is insulting to Anglicans and the difficult choice prayerfully made to enter into communion with the universal Church to say that they would do so only because they "have nowhere else to go" in a lead article in today's Times.

Could it be that these sincere Christians follow Christ, as the name implies, and find Him more fully present in the Church we commonly call Catholic?

The NYT is more marginalized by such superficial commentary which encourages increasing numbers of readers to turn instead to other sources for the serious engagement which faith merits.

"A Run for Your Money": please sponsor me in the MC Marathon this Sunday

Friends in Christ,

Please prayerfully consider sponsoring me as I run in the Marine Corps Marathon this Sunday, 25 October.

My goal is $500 and the funds will support priestly vocations in the Archdiocese of Washington. Perhaps you can give one dollar for each of the 26.2 miles of the run. Whatever you decide to give will be gratefully remembered as I offer a Mass of Thanksgiving for the intentions of all donors at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome later this month.

Please email a message specifying the amount of your pledge to me at mcitl DOT blogspot DOT com AT gmail DOT com. Please make checks payable to "Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption", write "Fr Cusick/Marathon" in the memo block and mail to:

Fr Cusick
14908 Main Street
Upper Marlboro MD 20772

Whether you decide to give or not, messages of prayer are greatly appreciated as well.

Thank you and God bless you,
Fr C

Sunday at St Mary of the Assumption: Jesus says "no"

The Apostles wish to arrogate to themselves positions of power and prestige: "We want you to give us whatever we ask for". They think that greatness is achieved for those seated on lofty thrones, above the rest of humanity. Their request is denied: "That is not mine to give".

Our poor human love is like that of the Apostles James and John: we think that whoever loves us must give us whatever we want. We think that greatness means being served by the rest. For those who choose Jesus Christ, however, it must be different: "The greatest among you is the one who serves the rest."

In our families and in our parish life, we must prayerfully discern our desire to "be this", to "do that". All of those who assist our priests and deacons must avoid the temptation to arrogate roles of service to themselves: "let us sit, one at your right and the other at your left". Our intentions are good, but must be leavened first by discernment of our gifts and call, lest we risk creating dissension and disharmony in the community rather than building up in love: "When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John".

Of first importance for all of us must be our sharing in the Lord's "cup" and in His "baptism". He serves us in baptism by clothing us in the dignity of grace, a white royal garment. He serves our salvation by offering a share in the cup of his suffering: the blood of His Eucharist poured out abundantly for us and for the world.

In our prayers, in our lives, let our first request be for the gift of the Holy Spirit, that we may discern the Father's will in imitation of Christ, who "gives His life as a ransom for many". In that same Spirit may we be truly "wise" and in the graces of courage and perseverance live out the calling to serve in His love.

God bless you, and Happy Sunday!

-- ((((..))))

Sailing

Ahoy maties -
Hello friends from aboard the Seven C's. My Dad is skippering and
nephew Kelly is at the helm as we begin day on the water with a
possible port call in Baltimore harbor. It's oyster season!
God bless you-
((((..))))

Eucharistic Adoration at St Mary of the Assumption

Offering hours spent today in the company of His Eucharistic Divine Presence for intentions of all APL, MCITL, BrevRom, WDCRB and TLS visitors.

Thank you.

-- ((((..))))

Please pray for the spiritual health and morale of our troops

Please take a moment and read about why our troops in Afghanistan and other places in harm's way around the world need your prayers now more than ever. You can find the article from Times Online here.

Thank you.

Congratulations Conor & Peggy

May the Lord bring you closer in His love every day.

Sunday at St Mary of the Assumption: Do not "go away sad"

Encounter Christ. Leave behind the "possessions" which are one's attachment to all in this world that will not last and run to embrace the only One who is everlasting.

Receive the Savior, who gives the entire gift of Himself in the Word and Sacrament of each holy Mass, through the sincere and total gift of self. One gives oneself by means of reverent and whole-hearted participation in all the actions, gestures, prayers, and songs of the sacred Liturgy so that Christ becomes more and more the treasure possessed by each member of God's faithful people.

With God all things are possible. The joy of loving is fulfilled in God's gift of Christ. In Him alone do we find the "all" for which we hunger.

Do not go away sad. Meet and love Christ in each and every sacred Liturgy. He gives Himself without counting the cost so that you might have the grace to give in return, wholeheartedly because without attachment to any worldly thing. Give with joy.

God bless you and happy Sunday!

-- ((((..))))

PriestYear Intention

Please pray that all of our priests will help God's people to "hear the Word of God and observe it."

Thank you.

-- ((((..))))

8 miles

Beautiful "Indian summer"weather for my run today at Merkle Wildlife Refuge.

USMC Marathon countdown: 15 days.

Please help Haiti

Food for the Poor is feeding the hungry in Haiti. Please pray about whether you are called to also help feed the poor in Haiti, the hungriest place in this hemisphere and so nearby to all of us and our wealthy way of life.

Just a brief look at the the photo gallery of the web site at Food for the Poor will be enough to convince you of the need.

My friend, our tears are beautiful signs of Christ's love in our hearts, but they are not enough. We must act. Thank you. ((((..))))

Food for the Poor has a 5-star rating from Ministry Watch, with a .6% average administrative overhead. More details can be found here.

Photo: Average human housing in Haiti would not be considered good enough for dogs in the United States. Photo by IRED.

Countdown: 17 days to USMC Marathon

Ran 16 miles yesterday. Weather: sunny, ca. 79-80 degrees, breezy.

Please pray for the whole "Run for Vocations" team of the Archdiocese
of Washington. Thanks.

Defend Life 8 October in Annapolis

Defend Life is partnering with David Bereit and 40 Days for Life to sponsor just one day for the fall campaign at the Planned Parenthood Abortuary in Annapolis, Maryland.

We will be meeting this Thursday, October 8th from 10am - 5pm at:

929 West Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

REMEMBER - YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE ALL DAY!!!

This killing facility has only been protested ONE TIME in the last several years. We need every single person who can spare even just one hour to join us on this day!

Every person in Annapolis who drives by this facility needs to know they kill innocent babies' right there every single week.

We will be Praying, Fasting, and holding "Honk for Life" signs outside this Planned Parenthood site all day, but you can join us anytime from 10am - 5pm.

WE WILL NOT BE USING ANY FACE THE TRUTH SIGNS AT THIS EVENT!

I want to thank the handful of people how emailed me and let me know they are coming, but I need you to join us. If you can only do one thing in the month of October, please join us for this very, very important day.

INNOCENT CHILDREN ARE COUNTING ON YOU! WILL YOU ANSWER THEIR CALL?

If you can help, even for 30 minutes or an hour, please email me or call our Media/PR Director, Bill Simpson at (301) 300-3487.

Thanks again for all you do, and I hope I can count on you to join us this Thursday.

Sincerely,

Jack Ames
Director
Defend Life
www.defendlife.org

Prayers for Bishop Saltarelli

Fowarded from a friend:

Bishop Saltarelli has always been a very private man, as you may well know... One of the brothers from my council works at the diocesan offices, and was told this morning that the Bishop's condition is grave. This brother asked that the prayer request be sent out.

I understand that Bishop Saltarelli is being kept as comfortable as possible in the hospice wing of the hospital. I understand that the diocese asks that vists be kept to family members, and that others just offer prayers that the bishop have a peaceful death. The Knights are losing a great brother and true friend, as well as an outstanding shepherd.

Vivat Jesus,
Leon J. Gratkowski
State Treasurer
Delaware Knights of Columbus

Multi-tasking

.... lowers your IQ by 10 points.

Source: A. J. Jacobs, author of "The Guinea Pig Diaries"

Camp Lejeune welcomes Father Aidan Logan and the Extraordinary Form of holy Mass

Thanks to Fr Aidan Logan, Navy chaplain, the extraordinary form of holy Mass will now be available every Sunday at 1230 pm at the Catholic chapel on board Camp Lejeune, NC.

The information about the Mass provided by the Diocese of Raleigh can be found here.

Thank you, Father Logan. May you be blessed abundantly during this Year of the Priest.

"Let the children come to me."

Do we not follow this command of the Lord to "let the children come" to him when we obey the truth about the marital act? When we follow the teaching in Humanae Vitae that every marital act must be open to new life?

"What God has joined, man must not divide." In the one marital act, God has joined two gifts: life and love. The life-giving and love-giving aspects of the marital act are separated by the anti-life will necessarily involved by every use of artificial contraception. This is why the Church absolutely excludes its use as a moral evil in each and every circumstance.

"Let the children come to me" in the sacredness of the gift whereby husband and wife truly become "one flesh" in the sacrament of marriage, where every marital act is open to new life.

-- ((((..))))