Monday, December 21st, 2009
Daily Archive
O Oriens
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 21 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
The Nihilism of Naturalism
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 21 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Miscellaneous
Ross Douthat’s op-ed piece in today’s New York Times contains an excellent appraisal of our culture’s predilection for pantheism. Be sure to read the whole column. Just days before Christmas, Douthat explains one very important reason why the Baby Jesus makes a difference.
Douthat summarizes his point in the column’s final paragraphs.
“Indeed, [pantheism] represents a form of religion that even atheists can support. Richard Dawkins has called pantheism “a sexed-up atheism.” (He means that as a compliment.) Sam Harris concluded his polemic “The End of Faith” by rhapsodizing about the mystical experiences available from immersion in “the roiling mystery of the world.” Citing Albert Einstein’s expression of religious awe at the “beauty and sublimity” of the universe, Dawkins allows, “In this sense I too am religious.”
The question is whether Nature actually deserves a religious response. Traditional theism has to wrestle with the problem of evil: if God is good, why does he allow suffering and death? But Nature is suffering and death. Its harmonies require violence. Its “circle of life” is really a cycle of mortality. And the human societies that hew closest to the natural order aren’t the shining Edens of James Cameron’s fond imaginings. They’re places where existence tends to be nasty, brutish and short.
Religion exists, in part, precisely because humans aren’t at home amid these cruel rhythms. We stand half inside the natural world and half outside it. We’re beasts with self-consciousness, predators with ethics, mortal creatures who yearn for immortality.
This is an agonized position, and if there’s no escape upward – or no God to take on flesh and come among us, as the Christmas story has it – a deeply tragic one.
Pantheism offers a different sort of solution: a downward exit, an abandonment of our tragic self-consciousness, a re-merger with the natural world our ancestors half-escaped millennia ago.
But except as dust and ashes, Nature cannot take us back.”
Theology in the City – December 21
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 21 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Lectures, Parish Events, Parish News
US Bishops Reiterate Opposition to Senate Health Bill
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 21 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Miscellaneous
In a statement released on December 19, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops continued to express its grief and disappointment that the health care reform bill currently advancing through the US Senate allocates taxpayer monies to fund abortion. Despite the attempts of several senators to remove or restrict this allocation of funds, the bill will undoubtedly overturn established legal precedent and—for the first time—establish the US Government as a provider of abortion within our borders. In its statement, the Conference also mentions other areas of concern regarding the overall bill.
HEALTH REFORM BILL NEEDS MORE WORK DESPITE NEW LANGUAGE ON ABORTION, SAY CATHOLIC BISHOPS
Federal government must not expand its role enabling abortions
Bill should not go forward unless and until problems remedied
Protection of life, conscience rights; fairness to legal immigrants; affordability top issues
WASHINGTON–The Senate health reform bill should not move forward in its current form, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, and Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City said December 19, as senators proceeded closer to a vote. Cardinal DiNardo chairs the bishops’ Committee on Pro-life Activities. Bishop Murphy chairs the bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. Bishop Wester chairs the bishops’ Committee on Migration.
“Yesterday the bishops commented on good-faith efforts by Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) to improve the pending Senate health care reform bill on the issues of abortion and conscience rights,” Cardinal DiNardo, Bishop Murphy and Bishop Wester said. “Today a Manager’s Amendment was proposed to make final changes in that bill. The amendment includes some improvements from Senator Casey’s proposal, including adoption tax credits and assistance for pregnant women, but differs from that proposal in other ways: It does not seem to allow purchasers who exercise freedom of choice or of conscience to “opt out” of abortion coverage in federally subsidized health plans that include such coverage. Instead it will require purchasers of such plans to pay a distinct fee or surcharge which is extracted solely to help pay for other people’s abortions. Further the government agency that currently manages health coverage for federal employees will promote and help subsidize multi-state health plans that include elective abortions, contrary to longstanding law governing this agency.
Therefore, while we appreciate the good-faith efforts made by Senators Robert Casey and Ben Nelson (D-NE) to improve the bill, our judgment is the same as it was yesterday: This legislation should not move forward in its current form. It should be opposed unless and until such serious concerns have been addressed. The bishops’ conference continues to study that 383-page amendment’s implications from the perspective of all the bishops’ moral concerns — protection of life and conscience, affordable access to health care, and fairness to immigrants. We will continue to work vigorously for authentic health care reform that clearly reflects these fundamental principles because such reform is a public good, moral imperative and urgent national priority.”
Holy Innocents Mass – December 28
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 21 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Parish Events
An invitation from the Sisters of Life:
Dear Friends,
Monday, Dec. 28th marks the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Each year the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal and all of the Sisters of Life gather to commemorate this day by prayer and witness – please join us!
Mass 8:00 am – Fr. Benedict Groeschel main celebrant joined by Msgr. Phillip Reilly and other priests:
Church of the Holy Innocents / 128 West 37th Street (btn B’dway and 7th Ave.)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament follows Mass, then people can either remain in the Church to adore our Lord or attend the rosary procession to the local abortion clinic. Upon return from the clinic there will be a special luncheon. Please promote this to your friends and keep the spiritual success of this effort for Life in your prayers.