Thursday, March 17, 2011

Uhhhh...

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

In case you didn't know, in Iowa at the midterm elections of 2010 the portion of justices who were up on the ballot for retention were voted out. Normally in Iowa, the vote is just a formality and justices are kept on, but in this case, the Iowa Supreme Court had legalized homosexual marriage in the state, an unpopular move that generated a campaign to vote no for retention.

In the days after the election, many arguments were made about Iowa voters interfering with the Court, politicizing the bench, and taking away judicial independence. The obvious reply is that if voters aren't supposed to have any say on keeping or sending off justices, why does the Iowa Constitution give them that right?

So today I got my copy of the local diocesan paper in the mail. In it was the usual column by Father McBrien and his subject was Archbishop Dolan being elected to the presidency of the USCCB instead of the vice president, Bishop Kicanas. It's costumary for the vice president to succeed, so Dolan's election was a break with tradition. Father McBrien drew parallels between the rise of the Tea Party in US politics and the slow conservative drift of the US episcopal conference and then the world at large.

McBrien obviously has his opinion on where the Church is headed and he's entitled to it. I just want to reply: if the bishops weren't supposed to choose anyone else except the vice present, why bother having the vote?

Friday, March 11, 2011

Japanese Earthquake: 8.9!

All you Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan, intercede for your people in their time of struggle.

Let us pray to Our Lady of Akita that she will watch over and pray for the people of Japan.

8.9...

Friday, March 04, 2011

The Knights of Columbus

This past Sunday I joined the Knights of Columbus. I had been thinking about it for a number of years. Several years ago, I received an application form during a previous recruitment drive, but for various reasons didn't get around to going any further. At Mass the previous few weeks, a gentleman spoke after Communion and information was handed out after the Dismissal. An email address was provided as a point of contact for interested parties and that more than anything helped me follow through this time around.

That was last week. I met with my point of contact last week and received information on how things would work given my disability (booklets were provided for me to read through and a helper helped me keep my place). The gentleman was very friendly and helpful and this put me at ease.

Sunday came around; I got up early and got ready to go, dressing in my suit. My brother drove me out to the family center of the parish council and I was ushered into a front office where I waited with several other gentlemen who there to be inducted with me. All were friendly and while others talked, I got a chance to look at some of the religious prints on the office walls. One of the knights came in and explained a few things to us (I followed along in one of the provided booklets). Then it was time to go inside for the 1st Degree exemplification.

After it was over, pizza was served and I met a few of my fellows. Then it was time to go. I met my brother in the parking lot and we set out for a nearby church where the 2nd and 3rd Degree exemplifications were slated to take place. Once we got there, I went inside and was vouched for by one of my fellows from my council. Then I went to wait with even more men who were from the different parishes of the city. Once more, things got under way and afterward food was served.

I learned a lot and I'm looking forward to helping my fellows and getting to know them better while helping my parish and community with other practical Catholic men.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

March Intentions

VATICAN CITY, 1 MAR 2011 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for March is: "That the nations of Latin America may walk in fidelity to the Gospel and progress in justice and peace".

His mission intention is: "That the Holy Spirit may give light and strength to those in many regions of the world who are persecuted and discriminated against because of the Gospel".

BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/ VIS 20110301 (80)