Archbishop Sample Emphasizes ‘Liturgy According to the Mind, Heart of the Church’

PORTLAND, Ore. — The feast of Corpus Christi June 3 marked a special event in the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, with the release of the new “Archdiocesan Liturgical Handbook.”
The 375-page handbook, which was disseminated in print to all 120 parishes and chapels of the archdiocese, deals with all things liturgical, outlining the proper celebration of the Eucharist, from what the priest does to how the congregation is to participate.
In his introduction, Archbishop Alexander Sample explained the handbook is intended as a guide to many aspects of life in the archdiocese and parishes “that concern the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and the understanding of the faith it expresses.” …

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/archbishop-sample-emphasizes-liturgy-according-to-the-mind-heart-of-the-chu

FDA Signs Controversial Contract With Fetal-Tissue Provider

WASHINGTON — Legislators, pro-life groups and ethicists have condemned a new government contract to obtain human tissue from aborted children for use in medical research and in the creation of “humanized mice.”
The Food and Drug Administration signed a $15,900 contract to acquire human fetal tissue for use on mice July 25. The contract was signed with Advanced Bioscience Resources Inc. (ABR), a California based not-for-profit. It is the eighth contract between the FDA and ABR since 2012; seven of the contracts appear to relate to the same or similar programs.
The fetal tissue used in such research is obtained from elective abortions, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service. …

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/fda-signs-controversial-contract-with-fetal-tissue-provider

Vatican Draft Alters Catechism Wording on Capital Punishment, Calling It ‘Inadmissible’

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican Thursday altered the Catechism’s wording on the permissibility of the death penalty, which the Church teaches is legitimate in extreme cases, stating it is “inadmissible,” and its elimination will be sought.
A new draft of paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church was issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Aug. 2, after Pope Francis approved it in May. …

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/vatican-draft-alters-catechism-wording-on-capital-punishment-calling-it-ina

Department of Justice Creates ‘Religious Liberty Task Force’

WASHINGTON — The announcement of a “Religious Liberty Task Force” being created at the Department of Justice drew praise from Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, who said that religious freedom is vital to the common good of the United States.
“As Americans we intuitively understand that individuals should be free to live in accordance with what they believe to be true, that is, in accordance one’s conscience,” said Archbishop Kurtz, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ religious liberty committee. …

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/department-of-justice-creates-religious-liberty-task-force

Bible: Romans #5

In verses 18 through 20, we see how God created everything to reveal who He is and reflect His ways. In the things He created, we can derive that God exists, and furthermore, what is good and what is evil. God created things with a purpose and an order according to that purpose. We can discover that the eye has the purpose to help us see and the stomach helps us digest food to stay alive. God even gave us taste buds so that we may have pleasure in eating to inspire us to stay alive. If anything comes along that prevents or hinders the eye from seeing or the stomach from digesting, then that would be ‘an evil’ and unhealthy. But if medicine or some sort of assistance were to come along to help the eye see or the stomach to digest, then that would be ‘a good’ and healthy. It is just as much true with our bodies as it is with our souls. God created our bodies and souls not in a general way, but with detail, reason and purpose. Continue reading “Bible: Romans #5”

Domingo XVII Tiempo Ordina ciclo B 2018

Todos sabemos que el problema del hambre en el mundo no es la falta de alimentos, sino el uso y reparto que se hace de los alimentos existentes. Si se repartieran bien los alimentos existentes, con justicia moral, es decir con una justicia que incluyera la misericordia y la generosidad, no habría en el mundo personas que tuvieran que morir de hambre. Sabemos que repartir bien es muy difícil y costoso, pero merecería la pena: que nadie se quedara con alimentos superfluos y que repartiera estos alimentos a las personas que los necesitan para vivir. No olvidemos nunca la famosa frase de san Agustín: los alimentos superfluos de los ricos son los alimentos necesarios de los pobres. ¿Qué podemos hacer cada uno de nosotros? Primero practicarlo y dar ejemplo; después predicarlo y actuar social y políticamente de acuerdo con esta idea. Jesús repartió alimento de pobres –unos panes de cebada y unos peces- y hubo para todos. El ejemplo de Jesús debería ser contagioso para todos los cristianos, para los pobres y para los ricos. Repartamos todos lo que tenemos, poco o mucho, y desaparecerá el hambre del mundo. ¡Claro que para eso hace falta mirar antes al cielo y obedecer a nuestro padre Dios! Como hizo Jesús. Continue reading “Domingo XVII Tiempo Ordina ciclo B 2018”

Warning: Humanae Vitae Can Change Your Life!

It seems like only yesterday that I was introduced to Humanae Vitae through a class on the theology of the body, but in truth, it has been nearly 20 years.

During the summer of 1999, when I was working for the Archdiocese of Denver raising money for the inner-city Catholic schools, a young intern knocked on my door and invited me to join a theology of the body class she was offering. Even though I had never heard of Pope St. John Paul II’s “theology of the body,” she and I had the beginnings of a warm friendship, and so without hesitation, I signed up. I didn’t realize…

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/warning-humanae-vitae-can-change-your-life