There is something very humbling about seeing your name in print next to these well formed, and informed Catholic writers. They actually printed my letter in the National Catholic Register!
It was in response to a letter by another individual that felt abortion and contraception should be included as part of womens health in foreign aid.
Fellow Canadian’s Chagrin
Keep up the good work. It was nice to see Canadian news included in the paper.
Responding to the letter submitted by Elena Shen of London, Ontario, in the March 14 edition. She was responding to the headline “Northern Fights” in the Feb. 28 print edition.
I was compelled to respond to this letter, as I was saddened by this response. I agree that abortion and contraception are opposed to women’s health and challenge those who think otherwise to research the effects that contraception and abortion have on the woman’s body, as well as her psychological well-being. Even if we eliminate the moral implications of contraception and abortion, it is still very clear that contraception and abortion only causes more harm. Pregnancy is not a disease; it is a natural process for women who engage in sexual activity. What is needed as part of women’s health is education on how the woman’s body provides fertile and infertile times within her cycle.
To claim that abortion can assist in improving children’s health is to say that murder is all right and should be legal if it means killing someone who makes my life more difficult. Murder is illegal in Canada when it involves a person outside the womb, yet murders still happen. Does this mean we should rethink this law and make it easier? What is a safe abortion? Abortion is murder.
Poverty is not the result of overpopulation; in fact, it is the result of corrupt governments. Many of us have forgotten that we are all responsible to care for others, the poor and marginalized, the sick and the dying. Offering contraception and abortion as part of women’s health, even to underdeveloped countries, is like offering a soiled tissue as a bandage to someone with a severed limb.
In my opinion, Harper’s government should be working to ensure Christian ideologies are part of their decision-making at home and abroad. This is not Harper’s theology; this is God’s.
Obviously, there is much more to say on this topic, especially if we include the moral implications and Church teaching on contraception and abortion. Instead, I’ll conclude with the words of Christ:
“The poor you will always have with you, but you do not always have me” (Matthew 26:11).
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18: 5-6).
Fatima Borges
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
New York former Jewish mayor addresses anti-Catholocism in the media
Koch's Comments New York's legendary Jewish former mayor Ed Koch address' anti-Catholicism in the media.
Koch's comments:
I believe the continuing attacks by the media on the Roman Catholic Church and Pope Benedict XVI have become manifestations of anti-Catholicism. The procession of articles on the same events are, in my opinion, no longer intended to inform, but simply to castigate.
The sexual molestation of children, principally boys, is horrendous. This is agreed to by everyone, Catholics, the Church itself, as well as non-Catholics and the media. The pope has on a number of occasions on behalf of the Church admitted fault and asked for forgiveness. For example, The New York Times reported on April 18, 2008, that the pope "came face to face with a scandal that has left lasting wounds on the American church Thursday, holding a surprise meeting with several victims of sexual abuse by priests in the Boston area.... 'No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse,' the Pope said in his homily. 'It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention.'"
On March 20, 2010, the Times reported that in his eight page pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, the pope wrote, "You have suffered grievously, and I am truly sorry ... Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated."
The pope also "criticized Ireland's bishops for 'grave errors of judgment and failures of leadership.'"
The primary explanation for the abuse that happened - not to excuse the retention of priests in positions that enabled them to continue to harm children - was the belief that the priests could be cured by psychotherapy, a theory now long discarded by the medical profession. Regrettably, it is also likely that years ago the abuse of children was not taken as seriously as today. Thank God we've progressed on that issue.
Many of those in the media who are pounding on the Church and the pope today clearly do it with delight, and some with malice. The reason, I believe, for the constant assaults is that there are many in the media, and some Catholics as well as many in the public, who object to and are incensed by positions the Church holds, including opposition to all abortions, opposition to gay sex and same-sex marriage, retention of celibacy rules for priests, exclusion of women from the clergy, opposition to birth control measures involving condoms and prescription drugs and opposition to civil divorce. My good friend, John Cardinal O'Connor, once said, "The Church is not a salad bar, from which to pick and choose what pleases you." The Church has the right to demand fulfillment of all of its religious obligations by its parishioners, and indeed a right to espouse its beliefs generally.
I disagree with the Church on all of these positions. Nevertheless, it has a right to hold these views in accordance with its religious beliefs. I disagree with many tenets of Orthodox Judaism - the religion of my birth - and have chosen to follow the tenets of Conservative Judaism, while I attend an Orthodox synagogue. Orthodox Jews, like the Roman Catholic Church, can demand absolute obedience to religious rules. Those declining to adhere are free to leave.
I believe the Roman Catholic Church is a force for good in the world, not evil. Moreover, the existence of one billion, 130 million Catholics worldwide is important to the peace and prosperity of the planet.
Of course, the media should report to the public any new facts bearing upon the issue of child molestation, but its objectivity and credibility are damaged when the New York Times declines to publish an op-ed offered by New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan on the issue of anti-Catholicism and offers instead to publish a letter to the editor, which is much shorter and less prominent than an op-ed.
I am appalled that, according to the Times of April 6, 2010, "Last week, the center-left daily newspaper La Repubblica wrote, without attribution that 'certain Catholic circles' believed the criticism of the Church stemmed from 'a New York Jewish lobby.'" The pope should know that some of his fellow priests can be thoughtless or worse in their efforts to help him. If the "certain Catholic circles" were referring to the Times, the Pope should know that the publisher, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., is Episcopalian, having taken the religion of his mother, and its executive editor, Bill Keller, is also a Christian.
Enough is enough. Yes, terrible acts were committed by members of the Catholic clergy. The Church has paid billions to victims in the US and will pay millions, perhaps billions, more to other such victims around the world. It is trying desperately to atone for its past by its admissions and changes in procedures for dealing with pedophile priests. I will close with a paraphrase of the words of Jesus as set forth in John 8:7: He [or she] that is without sin among you, let him [or her] cast the next stone.
http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/koch/entry/he_that_is_without_sin
Koch's comments:
I believe the continuing attacks by the media on the Roman Catholic Church and Pope Benedict XVI have become manifestations of anti-Catholicism. The procession of articles on the same events are, in my opinion, no longer intended to inform, but simply to castigate.
The sexual molestation of children, principally boys, is horrendous. This is agreed to by everyone, Catholics, the Church itself, as well as non-Catholics and the media. The pope has on a number of occasions on behalf of the Church admitted fault and asked for forgiveness. For example, The New York Times reported on April 18, 2008, that the pope "came face to face with a scandal that has left lasting wounds on the American church Thursday, holding a surprise meeting with several victims of sexual abuse by priests in the Boston area.... 'No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse,' the Pope said in his homily. 'It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention.'"
On March 20, 2010, the Times reported that in his eight page pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, the pope wrote, "You have suffered grievously, and I am truly sorry ... Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated."
The pope also "criticized Ireland's bishops for 'grave errors of judgment and failures of leadership.'"
The primary explanation for the abuse that happened - not to excuse the retention of priests in positions that enabled them to continue to harm children - was the belief that the priests could be cured by psychotherapy, a theory now long discarded by the medical profession. Regrettably, it is also likely that years ago the abuse of children was not taken as seriously as today. Thank God we've progressed on that issue.
Many of those in the media who are pounding on the Church and the pope today clearly do it with delight, and some with malice. The reason, I believe, for the constant assaults is that there are many in the media, and some Catholics as well as many in the public, who object to and are incensed by positions the Church holds, including opposition to all abortions, opposition to gay sex and same-sex marriage, retention of celibacy rules for priests, exclusion of women from the clergy, opposition to birth control measures involving condoms and prescription drugs and opposition to civil divorce. My good friend, John Cardinal O'Connor, once said, "The Church is not a salad bar, from which to pick and choose what pleases you." The Church has the right to demand fulfillment of all of its religious obligations by its parishioners, and indeed a right to espouse its beliefs generally.
I disagree with the Church on all of these positions. Nevertheless, it has a right to hold these views in accordance with its religious beliefs. I disagree with many tenets of Orthodox Judaism - the religion of my birth - and have chosen to follow the tenets of Conservative Judaism, while I attend an Orthodox synagogue. Orthodox Jews, like the Roman Catholic Church, can demand absolute obedience to religious rules. Those declining to adhere are free to leave.
I believe the Roman Catholic Church is a force for good in the world, not evil. Moreover, the existence of one billion, 130 million Catholics worldwide is important to the peace and prosperity of the planet.
Of course, the media should report to the public any new facts bearing upon the issue of child molestation, but its objectivity and credibility are damaged when the New York Times declines to publish an op-ed offered by New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan on the issue of anti-Catholicism and offers instead to publish a letter to the editor, which is much shorter and less prominent than an op-ed.
I am appalled that, according to the Times of April 6, 2010, "Last week, the center-left daily newspaper La Repubblica wrote, without attribution that 'certain Catholic circles' believed the criticism of the Church stemmed from 'a New York Jewish lobby.'" The pope should know that some of his fellow priests can be thoughtless or worse in their efforts to help him. If the "certain Catholic circles" were referring to the Times, the Pope should know that the publisher, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., is Episcopalian, having taken the religion of his mother, and its executive editor, Bill Keller, is also a Christian.
Enough is enough. Yes, terrible acts were committed by members of the Catholic clergy. The Church has paid billions to victims in the US and will pay millions, perhaps billions, more to other such victims around the world. It is trying desperately to atone for its past by its admissions and changes in procedures for dealing with pedophile priests. I will close with a paraphrase of the words of Jesus as set forth in John 8:7: He [or she] that is without sin among you, let him [or her] cast the next stone.
http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/koch/entry/he_that_is_without_sin
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Seeking the Truth
My take on the media's response to the Pope's letter to Ireland...
While it may be a tough time to hold fast to our Catholic faith, we must recall that this is why we detest sin...it causes distrust, confusion, scandal and so much pain.
Christ who is the author of truth and justice defeated death the day of his resurrection. I pray for all of you who are struggling to understand how this happens and questioning or doubting your faith as a result of what you are hearing in the media, I implore you to look at Christ, and spend some time with him in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Christ became sin look what it did to Him. He sweat blood!
Take courage! In Church history we see that during the times of great scandal there was also great renewal and many devout saints who were hard at work. So let’s get to work and not allow ourselves to be discouraged. Let’s continue to defend Christ and His Church, this way we do not let Christ suffer alone.
I include this article from ZENIT for those of you who would like to know the truth and not the distortions that secular media are providing for us.
Have a Blessed Holy Week!
Vatican Notes "Mere Speculation" in New York Times
Reiterates Information Provided by Munich Archdiocese
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 26, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Attempts by the New York Times to personally embroil Benedict XVI in the sex abuse scandals are "mere speculation," the Vatican spokesman said today.
In an article today, the Times took up a story reported earlier about a priest allowed to do pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Munich even though he was receiving psychological treatment for a history of abuse. The archbishop at the time was Joseph Ratzinger. Since the story of the priest has been reported, Archbishop Ratzinger's then vicar general, Monsignor Gerhard Gruber, has accepted full responsibility for the priest's assignment.
Today, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, was asked about the Times article.
He answered by making reference to a communiqué from the Archdiocese of Munich this morning. The communiqué states: "The article in the New York Times contains no new information beyond that which the archdiocese has already communicated concerning the then archbishop's knowledge of the situation of Father H."
Father Lombardi thus confirmed that the Munich Archdiocese rejects any version of events that attributes knowledge of the case to Archbishop Ratzinger, calling it "mere speculation."
This is the second day in a row that the Times has tried to implicate the Pope personally in abuse scandals. An article Thursday regarding a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee also spoke of his role, this time as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
ZENIT reported the Vatican's response to that article and clarified certain details of the case on Thursday.
While it may be a tough time to hold fast to our Catholic faith, we must recall that this is why we detest sin...it causes distrust, confusion, scandal and so much pain.
Christ who is the author of truth and justice defeated death the day of his resurrection. I pray for all of you who are struggling to understand how this happens and questioning or doubting your faith as a result of what you are hearing in the media, I implore you to look at Christ, and spend some time with him in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Christ became sin look what it did to Him. He sweat blood!
Take courage! In Church history we see that during the times of great scandal there was also great renewal and many devout saints who were hard at work. So let’s get to work and not allow ourselves to be discouraged. Let’s continue to defend Christ and His Church, this way we do not let Christ suffer alone.
I include this article from ZENIT for those of you who would like to know the truth and not the distortions that secular media are providing for us.
Have a Blessed Holy Week!
Vatican Notes "Mere Speculation" in New York Times
Reiterates Information Provided by Munich Archdiocese
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 26, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Attempts by the New York Times to personally embroil Benedict XVI in the sex abuse scandals are "mere speculation," the Vatican spokesman said today.
In an article today, the Times took up a story reported earlier about a priest allowed to do pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Munich even though he was receiving psychological treatment for a history of abuse. The archbishop at the time was Joseph Ratzinger. Since the story of the priest has been reported, Archbishop Ratzinger's then vicar general, Monsignor Gerhard Gruber, has accepted full responsibility for the priest's assignment.
Today, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, was asked about the Times article.
He answered by making reference to a communiqué from the Archdiocese of Munich this morning. The communiqué states: "The article in the New York Times contains no new information beyond that which the archdiocese has already communicated concerning the then archbishop's knowledge of the situation of Father H."
Father Lombardi thus confirmed that the Munich Archdiocese rejects any version of events that attributes knowledge of the case to Archbishop Ratzinger, calling it "mere speculation."
This is the second day in a row that the Times has tried to implicate the Pope personally in abuse scandals. An article Thursday regarding a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee also spoke of his role, this time as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
ZENIT reported the Vatican's response to that article and clarified certain details of the case on Thursday.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Can God Be Trusted?
Some may respond to this question quick and easy, however as Fr. Thomas Williams, LC and my son have figured out, there is much to be said on this topic because in troubled times we doubt God's design.
Watch the video of Fr. Thomas being interviewed on this topic and take the time to read my son's Grade 6 speech on this topic.
Have you ever not trusted someone like your mom or dad? Do you have a valid reason not to trust them? Can we trust them? Well some people have the same questions about God. Today I’m going to try to answer these four questions:
Who is God?
Why should we trust Him?
How can we trust Him when bad things happen?
And why do we have trouble trusting?
These questions will answer the main question Can God be Trusted.
First of all, who is God? God is our creator. God is our savior. God is love. God is the Alpha and Omega. He is the Father. He created angels, man, woman, and animals. God is a mystery. God sees all things, hears all things, and knows all things. You can’t hide from God. If you lie to someone, God knows. God is faithful, merciful, gracious, forgiving and divine.
Well if we know who God is, we get a better picture of what there is to trust. But why should we trust God? God created us. He cares for us at a time of trouble. Imagine a prefect parent. Someone who knows when your upset, or when you’re not telling the truth. We should trust God because he loves us, and cares for us, and would never abandon us.
You need to take a risk in trusting God. Imagine a person who doesn’t trust anyone. What would he or she do? They wouldn’t eat much because they wouldn’t trust farmers or grocery stores and they wouldn’t trust doctors or take medication. We should trust God because he is faithful and fully deserving of our trust. God compares his own faithfulness to a mother in the Bible, and claims to be even more faithful than a mother. How do you think of your mom? Do you trust her?
How can we trust God when bad things happen? When you lose a loved one like a grandparent or an uncle, do you trust that God will take care of them? When we are sick and suffering in pain, do we trust our parents or the Motrin is going to make us better? If we love God and pray to him, he could take the suffering right off of our backs. He probably won’t because he knows we can learn compassion through suffering. There will always be a time when you will look up and say “Why God Why?!” Suffering will always be there because Adam and Eve ate the fruit God said not to eat. They disobeyed God, we all know there are consequences to disobeying our parents. There will always be suffering. It’s our choice to suffer with God, or to suffer alone. Imagine an operation. Do you want to wake up and see someone you love or do you want to wake up in a room all alone?
Why do we have trouble trusting in general? Is it because we are not trust worthy? Do we not like being trusted by parents or friends? It breaks the bond of love not to be trusted. Love and trust go together. We have trouble trusting because we know people make mistakes and because we know we make our own mistakes. It’s all about risk and faith. Faith is a gift from God.
Therefore God is my creator; he knows me better than anyone. Even when I make mistakes, he trusts me to do better next time. He loves me and knows what lessons I need to learn through my suffering and he never abandons me. We tend to think always about how God could allow bad things to happen in our lives and not trust him, but first we need to focus on the good he has done in our lives. Do we have food, clothes, a house, etc?
If I can trust my best friend, how much more should I be able to trust God, my creator?
Thank you and God Bless.
Watch the video of Fr. Thomas being interviewed on this topic and take the time to read my son's Grade 6 speech on this topic.
Have you ever not trusted someone like your mom or dad? Do you have a valid reason not to trust them? Can we trust them? Well some people have the same questions about God. Today I’m going to try to answer these four questions:
Who is God?
Why should we trust Him?
How can we trust Him when bad things happen?
And why do we have trouble trusting?
These questions will answer the main question Can God be Trusted.
First of all, who is God? God is our creator. God is our savior. God is love. God is the Alpha and Omega. He is the Father. He created angels, man, woman, and animals. God is a mystery. God sees all things, hears all things, and knows all things. You can’t hide from God. If you lie to someone, God knows. God is faithful, merciful, gracious, forgiving and divine.
Well if we know who God is, we get a better picture of what there is to trust. But why should we trust God? God created us. He cares for us at a time of trouble. Imagine a prefect parent. Someone who knows when your upset, or when you’re not telling the truth. We should trust God because he loves us, and cares for us, and would never abandon us.
You need to take a risk in trusting God. Imagine a person who doesn’t trust anyone. What would he or she do? They wouldn’t eat much because they wouldn’t trust farmers or grocery stores and they wouldn’t trust doctors or take medication. We should trust God because he is faithful and fully deserving of our trust. God compares his own faithfulness to a mother in the Bible, and claims to be even more faithful than a mother. How do you think of your mom? Do you trust her?
How can we trust God when bad things happen? When you lose a loved one like a grandparent or an uncle, do you trust that God will take care of them? When we are sick and suffering in pain, do we trust our parents or the Motrin is going to make us better? If we love God and pray to him, he could take the suffering right off of our backs. He probably won’t because he knows we can learn compassion through suffering. There will always be a time when you will look up and say “Why God Why?!” Suffering will always be there because Adam and Eve ate the fruit God said not to eat. They disobeyed God, we all know there are consequences to disobeying our parents. There will always be suffering. It’s our choice to suffer with God, or to suffer alone. Imagine an operation. Do you want to wake up and see someone you love or do you want to wake up in a room all alone?
Why do we have trouble trusting in general? Is it because we are not trust worthy? Do we not like being trusted by parents or friends? It breaks the bond of love not to be trusted. Love and trust go together. We have trouble trusting because we know people make mistakes and because we know we make our own mistakes. It’s all about risk and faith. Faith is a gift from God.
Therefore God is my creator; he knows me better than anyone. Even when I make mistakes, he trusts me to do better next time. He loves me and knows what lessons I need to learn through my suffering and he never abandons me. We tend to think always about how God could allow bad things to happen in our lives and not trust him, but first we need to focus on the good he has done in our lives. Do we have food, clothes, a house, etc?
If I can trust my best friend, how much more should I be able to trust God, my creator?
Thank you and God Bless.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Article in Christus Veritas Magazine
Being Worthy in the Eyes of Christ
Christ has called each and every one of us
to live our faith, actively, prayerfully and
effectively.
You can read my complete article at: Christus Veritas
Christ has called each and every one of us
to live our faith, actively, prayerfully and
effectively.
You can read my complete article at: Christus Veritas
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Discussion with Daniel Blodgett
We are on-line.
We were given an awesome opportunity to chat with Daniel Blodgett of Christus Veritas regarding our work in FAMILIA and it is now available on-line.
To listen, click here.
Thank you.
We were given an awesome opportunity to chat with Daniel Blodgett of Christus Veritas regarding our work in FAMILIA and it is now available on-line.
To listen, click here.
Thank you.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
I Love Christ more than sugar...
I love Christ more than sugar...
Sound funny or familiar?
That’s the phrase I tell myself every Lent when I give up “sweets” which includes chocolate, and sugar in my coffee or tea.
We started our countdown of 40 days to Easter and I had a realization the other day, as to how timely Lent really is.
It comes to us a few months after we’ve probably made a new year’s resolution, and by this time many of us may be feeling dejected as we have not lived up to our initial promise.
I have been attempting to impart to my children that Lent is not just a time to give up something for Lent, that we can complain about for 40 days and then look forward to being reunited with whatever it is we’ve given up for Lent; instead we should also see this as a time to be rid of a bad habit and start a new habit that will help us grow in our relationship with Christ.
In that spirit, my Lenten resolution is not just giving up “sweets” - one of the many ways I intend to journey with Christ this Lent is to attend a conference being organized by a friend and sister in Christ, Dorothy Pilarski.
I am so looking forward to this conference for “Dynamic Women of Faith”
Dorothy’s work for Christ is in line with the work we do in Familia, in fact she has been a guest speaker at a women’s event sponsored by Familia in December 2008.
Learn about the conference here: http://www.dynamicwomenfaith.com/
Listen to her radio interview, which includes 8 minutes of the 1st episode of Mothering, Full of Grace at: http://www.hmwn.net/audioarchive/search_results.php?title=Dorothy+Pilarski
Have a holy and reflective Lenten journey to Easter!
Image: Desserts are Laid on the Table by Tino Soriano
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