St. Stephen, here I come

Cause Way Tuesday
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Tell it straight, tell it truthfully, tell it with passion, tell it with no fear, tell it with love. Ever been in a situation where you needed to give the real hard word to a group where some will be 'with you' and some won't even understand what the concern is all about?

Sometime ago in years past [under a previous pastor, now deceased] our Parish Pastoral Council year, which begins in September, began with a half-day mini-retreat. All members of the Council and the heads of the various Apostolates which functioned under the oversight of the Council were expected to participate. I was asked to lead this retreat.

Our pastor didn't micro-manage, but he did want to know, in general terms, what was going to be the main thrust or theme and what I was going to emphasize. My main theme was going to be 'God's call'. For this group, a main focus was going to be on our willingness to volunteer and serve.

Very early I hit on the issue which I wanted to bring to the forefront of our minds. Service to the parish, such as being on this Council, is a 'call' or 'invitation' from God Himself. It should not be viewed as an affirmation of our popularity in the parish.

I continued along the lines of, "If any of us are here today, at the start of this new Parish Council year, for any reason other than as a response to a 'call' or 'invitation' from God, we need to reassess our position. If we never gave that a thought - if we came here to serve merely because it is a 'good thing to do' - maybe we ought to consider not being here at all. It is the beginning of the session and replacements can be found."

Some few understood. Some had no clue what I was talking about. Some became a bit agitated that I was suggesting that some should leave. For a moment I felt like I was going to be dragged out of town and thrown off the highest cliff.

As I then proceeded to flesh out those ideas, I won some over. Some, I believe, still had no understanding of being called to serve. At the conclusion, some thanked me. Several expressed that they had not ever given it any thought in terms of it being a response to a call. The pastor was satisfied. I did not joint the list of martyrs of the Church.
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So what is the point of telling this story?

Please read the two entries for Monday Feb 11 [yesterday] by blogger Adoro at Adoro Te Devote by 'clicking' here. Then pray for her as she makes her presentation tonight, Tuesday, to a second group.

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now you see her ... now you don't

Your Way Monday
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On the Roman Catholic Calendar of Feast-days, today promotes the devotion to 'Our Lady of Lourdes'. Information about this Marian apparition is provided below.
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In 1858, in the grotto of Massabielle, near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl.

She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision, and told the girl to drink from a fountain in the grotto.

No fountain was to be seen, but when Bernadette dug at a spot designated by the apparition, a spring began to flow. The water from this still flowing spring has shown remarkable healing power, though it contains no curative property that science can identify.

Lourdes has become the most famous modern shrine of Our Lady.

Read the whole story of the Miracles at Lourdes and about St. Bernadette at the following links.

St. Bernadette

The Grotto

The Apparitions

Bishop's Commission

Episcopal Commission's Report

Canonization

Her Incorrupt Body
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In the past 2000+ years, many visions or visitations or apparitions of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, have been reported. If you'd like to know more about the occurrences, visit the Catholic Encyclopedia.
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Got teens in the house? Lead them to truth. CS-4

My Way Sunday
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Lying is not a problem that only afflicts our teenagers, we all have a propensity towards dishonesty. Words and deeds that we know are wrong find their way into our life so easily - and they can do so much harm.
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Ron grew up in a strict Christian environment. Although Ron's parents were really nice, they seemed to be overly protective when it came to Ron's social life. Ron was not allowed to go to movies or school dances. In the eyes of his parents many of Ron's friends were not good enough for him.

Ron was not a rebellious person but the attitudes of his strict parents caused him a lot of tension. The only things they wanted him to do were go to church or church youth group activities. But he wanted to do others as well.

When Ron turned 16 he began to lie to his parents about where he was going. He still was not doing anything wrong in his eyes but more and more he found himself lying aboout his whereabouts. He would tell his parents he was going to a church activity when actually he was going to the movies with some friends.

Ron complained over and over again to his parents about their strict attitudes but all he ever got from them was, "It's for your own good." Ron began to lie more and more.
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1. If Ron was your friend, how could you help him?

2. What difficulties could Ron's lies cause for his church Youth Minister? What could the Youth leader do?

3. If Ron's mom called you on the phone and asked if Ron had been at the youth group meeting, what would you tell her?

4. Read the advise St. Paul give in his letter to the Ephesians in Chapter 6, verses 1-4:

1 Children, obey your parents (in the Lord), for this is right.

2 "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise,

3 "that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth."

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.

How does this scripture apply to this case?
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Cases Originally Copyrighted by Jim Burns 1987 - permission granted to use in work with teens.
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when the saints go marching in

Cause Way Thursday
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from the blog of Deacon Greg Kandra - The Deacon's Bench
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Saturday, February 2, 2008

A milestone is reached in the sainthood cause for Fulton Sheen

A key moment in the canonization process of Fulton Sheen is drawing to a close, as Clerical Whispers notes:

A milestone in the cause for sainthood of El Paso native Archbishop Fulton Sheen comes Sunday, with a special mass of thanksgiving at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Peoria.

It is part the “postrema session,” which ends the Peoria Diocese’s role in Sheen’s path to sainthood. During the mass, documents collected over the past few years will be officially packed, sealed and notarized.

Sheen was a diocesan priest who later became famous worldwide as a radio and television personality, author and orator. He died in 1979.

The documentation for sainthood includes about 100 testimonies of 15- to 30 pages each; reviews of each of Sheen’s nearly 70 books from the diocese’s Theological Commission; and about 1,500 pages of historical/archival materials, said Monsignor Richard Soseman, the diocese’s judicial vicar.

Coinciding with this, the Catholic Exchange has an interview with Fr. Andrew Apostoli, who's been involved in the process:

Dave Hartline: Father Apostoli can you give the readers an update on the progress of Archbishop Fulton Sheen's cause for sainthood?

Father Andrew Apostoli: The diocesan phase investigating Archbishop Sheen's Cause for Sainthood began in 2002 and that was started by Bishop Daniel Jenky CSC of Peoria, the boyhood home of Archbishop Sheen. The diocesan phase of the cause is drawing to a close. Through our interviews with witnesses who knew the Archbishop, we are hopeful that we can present testimonies that demonstrate that the Archbishop lived a life of heroic Christian virtue, which is necessary for sainthood. We also believe we have two significant healings that can be attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Sheen. One healing took place in Champaign, Illinois, and the other in Pittsburgh, PA. Both were quite extraordinary. One involved a woman who nearly died from a major tear in her pulmonary artery that occurred during a very delicate operation. Doctors felt there was no hope for the woman to survive, but she did. The other case involved a newborn infant who was diagnosed with three life-threatening conditions, one of which was the worst form of a blood disease called sepsis. There seemed to be little hope and yet the infant miraculously recovered to the point that the child shows no signs of his illnesses. The doctors have been amazed.

Dave Hartline: Father, please explain to the readers who are similar in age to myself (born in the 1960s) and have only seen Bishop Sheen on reruns on ETWN what it was like to see him on television in his heyday. What was the public's reaction?

Father Apostoli: NBC purposely put him on TV opposite Milton Berle. The TV networks had an obligation to show one hour of religious programming each week. Since Milton Berle was so popular (he was actually called "Mr. Television," at the time) no one expected Bishop Sheen's program to do very well. However, after his first show he received some twenty-eight thousand letters. Within six months the number of Bishop Sheen's viewers increased to the point that he beat Milton Berle in the first half hour of the time slot. It was amazing that, percentage-wise, more Jewish people watched the Bishop than Catholics or Protestants.

I believe this point helps to explain how Bishop Sheen was chiefly responsible for helping many Protestants and Jewish people to understand what the Catholic Church was really about. On a radio interview program, a Protestant man shared with me that his family always watched Milton Berle and never Bishop Sheen. One evening, however, when the TV reception that showed Milton Berle was so bad his family looked purely out of curiosity to see what Bishop Sheen was like. He told me that from then on they only watched Bishop Sheen. Another person told me that whenever her grandmother, who was a Protestant, watched Bishop Sheen's TV program, she always wore one of her best dresses. She felt like she was in church.

Dave Hartline: Bishop Sheen had a special devotion to St Therese, the Little Flower. You wrote the forward to a book entitled: "Archbishop Fulton Sheen's St Therese" A Treasured Love Story." It has just been released. Could you elaborate on this?

Father Apostoli: Yes, I was happy to write the forward to this beautiful new book since I knew how much St Therese meant to Archbishop Sheen. I think there were many young men and women who were greatly influenced by the writings and example of St Therese. You must remember that she died at the age of 24. This type of devotion and dedication for someone so young had a great impact on people, among them Archbishop Sheen. This book is special because it was the fruit of Archbishop Sheen's preaching about St Therese in which case you have a saintly person writing about a canonized one.

Dave Hartline: Tell us about why Archbishop Sheen spent an hour in Eucharistic Adoration every day.

Father Andrew Apostoli: While still in the seminary, Fulton Sheen heard about the bold faith of a young Chinese girl who during a time of persecution of the Church in China gave her life for the Eucharist. This young girl made reparation in honor of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in a small church in China where the Eucharist had been desecrated by anti-Catholic soldiers. The little girl came back several nights in a row to sneak into the Church. There she spent about an hour in prayer and reparation for the Eucharist that had been desecrated. Each night she licked up a consecrated Host (remember in those days the laity did not receive the Blessed Sacrament with their hands). One night one of the soldiers saw her entering the church, and as she was receiving the last consecrated Host, the guard shot and killed her. Before his ordination Fulton Sheen said that, if this young girl could give her life in reparation for the Eucharist, he could spend at least one hour of each day in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. We know he kept to this. For example, once while visiting missionaries in a remote village in Africa, he arrived late at night and his first request was to be brought to their chapel so he could spend his hour.

There's much more, so check out the rest. And pray that soon this great Catholic communicator will be officially proclaimed a saint.
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from uncle jim

A number of years ago, somewhere between 5-15 years ago, I was leading a Volunteers Workshop in our parish. At the conclusion, there was a final Q & A open floor comment session. The workshop seemed to have been well received by the participants, and I was feeling pretty good about it as I led this final session. A few people commented to that, and stated how glad they were they had participated. One woman, the president of our Parish Pastoral Council, stood up and really went overboard in her praise of the workshop - and of me. I was standing there listening and beginning to feel embarrassed. Our pastor was standing at the rear of the room. I looked back at him and, in an effort to break the tension of my embarrassment, said, "Well, Father, I guess when you get back to the rectory, you can start the paperwork to the Bishop for my 'cause'". I got a few chuckles, which is what I hoped for - but he immediately responded, "I'm sorry, Jim, but I can't do that. You see, you have to be dead first." He got the biggest laugh, and I was able to bring the discussion to a close.

That will probably be as close as I get.
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follow the money, sonny

The Way Wednesday
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The following is a compilation of excerpts from:
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Are U.S. Dollars Supporting Abortion in China?
by Deal Hudson
02/04/08
in InsideCatholic.com e-zine
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The mission of the Global Fund is to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis around the world. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the five-year, $15-billion plan for combating HIV/AIDS expires in 2008. The Mexico City Policy, reaffirmed by President Bush in January 2001, requires non-governmental organizations, such as the Global Fund, to "agree as a condition of their receipt of [U.S.] federal funds" that they will "neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations."

China's coercive abortion practices to enforce its one-child policy are well-known and well-documented. The United States has withheld contributions from the UNFPA [United Nations Population Fund] since 2002 because of its participation in China's program of enforced abortion.

The Gerard Health Foundation reports, "Programs funded through the Global Fund exist in all seven provinces [of China] that the State Department has identified as requiring 'termination of pregnancy' if the pregnancy violates provincial family planning regulations: Anhui, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan, Jilin, and Ningxia." The participation of China's NPFPC, UNFPA, and Maria Stopes International in grants from the Global Fund is buried in structures called "Country Coordinating Mechanisms" (CCMs), by which a country develops and submits its grant proposals as well as oversees their implementation.

Lest there be any doubt about the intent of these organizations, the grant from China approved by the Global Fund includes country population and family planning services in the list of "responsible implanting agencies." The amount of Global Fund grants awarded to China for HIV/AIDS prevention totals $171 million, which means about $58 million of that amount came from the United States.

The Gerard Health Foundation report argues, "The American public has reason to be seriously concerned about the Global Fund's camouflaged activities and what is being done with taxpayer dollars." The Kemp-Kasten Amendment, for example, prohibits giving U.S. "population assistance" funds to "any organization or program which, as determined by the President of the United States, supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization."

Taxpayer money put in the top of the pipeline to fight HIV/AIDS can come out the other end into the pockets of organizations who think the best way to fight disease is to eliminate the number of people who can get sick. American people don't want to pay for abortion, especially at the cost of HIV/AIDS victims whose suffering could be prevented.
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Deal W. Hudson is the director of InsideCatholic.com and the author of Onward, Christian Soldiers: The Growing Political Power of Catholics and Evangelicals in the United States (Simon and Schuster, March 2008).
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'Tis the season of political activism - get involved.
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a mull before the storm

Vid Way Tuesday
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Lent is my season for getting rid of the clutter and misbehavior in my life. It is a time to set right all those relationships that I've messed up - of course, the first one is with God, my creator. It is not all doom and gloom; it is also a time to rejoice in the graces I've received and in the good / correct / righteous things I've done / thought / said. It is also time to resolve to do better.
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In this video clip, Roman Catholic priest Fr. Robert Barron of the Archdiocese of Chicago, gives a pretty easy to understand vision of what Lent represents.
[4:11]



'Click' on the above > and use it for tomorrow - ASH WEDNESDAY
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FREEZE! You're under a test

Your Way Monday
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From Dawn Eden's blog, the Dawn Patrol.
[2:16]

'CLICK' on above > and consider that day when everything stops
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Got teens in the house? Lead them to truth. CS-3

My Way Sunday
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Today's environment finds many of us caught-up in the varies sub-cultures of the society in which we live. As individuals, we present many varied pictures and models to our teens - some good, and some not so.

Unfortunately, many of us live lives that we would not like our teens to copy. The reality is our teens will be exposed to the same temptations we face. Their decisions will often model what we present.
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Substance abuse is not very far from any of us - it is very likely that, even if we aren't abusers ourselves, there are close acquaintances who are. The substance of choice for many leads to alcoholism.
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Carol's mother was a very nice woman...when she was sober. The only problem was that she was seldom sober. Carol and her family had lived with her mother's drinking habits for years. Her mother would get drunk and become verbally, and even at times physically, abusive. There were days when her mother didn't come home. Eventually she was fired from her job as a secretary for the school district.

Carol's dad stayed with her mom even thought they fought a great deal of the time. Neither Carol nor her dad invited friends to come to their house. They never knew if mom would be sober.

Carol was beginning to deeply resent her mother. She lover her, but at times felt disgusted by and even hated her. Carol was also angry with her father for allowing her mother to act the way she was acting.

Her mother's drinking was affecting every aspect of Carol's life. She was doing poorly in school. Her anger was turning inward and she began not to take pride in herself. She neglected her appearance. Her mom's alcohol problem was taking a major toll on carol's life. She felt lost.
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1. What active steps could Carol take to deal with the problems caused by her mother's drinking?

2. If you were Carol's friend, what could you do to help?

3. What might help Carol deal with her feelings of anger and resentment?

4. Alcoholism is a family affair. What could the family do to help this situation?

5. What services, counselors, or agencies are there in your area that help families of alcoholics?
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Cases Originally Copyrighted by Jim Burns 1987 - permission granted to use in work with teens.
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As you prepare to use this case-study, try to find out the necessary information referenced in question number 5.
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the widows plight

Any Way Saturday
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Most of us have friends, neighbors, relatives who are widowed. I sometimes have to stop and ask myself about how I relate to them - or ignore them. I need to do better. The below article gives some advice.
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Please Do, and Please Don't
Suggestions for encouraging widows.
Miriam Neff | posted 1/18/2008 08:24AM in ChristianityToday e-zine.
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1. Please do stay connected. Do not assume we need "space" to grieve. There is already a huge hole in our universe.

2. Please do say you are sorry for our loss. Do not tell us you understand, unless you do from personally experiencing the loss of a spouse. We would rather you tell us you do not know what to say than tell us the story of losing your friend or even close relative. We may be able to listen to your story later, but not now.

3. Please call and ask specific questions, such as "Can we go for a walk together? May I run errands for you? Meet you for coffee?" Do not say, "Call me if you need anything."

4. Please refer to our husband's acts and words, both serious and humorous. We are so comforted by knowing our husband has not been forgotten.

5. Please invite us to anything. We may decline but will appreciate being asked. Do not assume we no longer want to participate in couples events.

6. Please accept that we are where we are. Marriages are brief, long, healthy, dysfunctional, intense, remote. Death comes suddenly or in tiny increments over years. Again, our experiences are so different, as are we. So are our journeys through grief. Do not assume we go through the grief process "by the book."

7. Do say, "I've been thinking of you" rather than make a conversation-only offer, such as "We'll call you, and we'll go out to dinner"—unless you can follow up. We'd love that, too.
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am I heartless?

Heart Way Friday
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Borrowed from Sheila at Around the Bend
. . . [4:13]

'CLICK' on the above > and tune-in to the lyrics.
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Here's the lyrics:

Lord I have a heavy burden of all I've seen and know
It's more than I can handle
But your word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones
and I cannot let it go

And when I'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

Lord it's all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind
it often overwhelms me
but when I think of all who've gone before and lived the faithful life
their courage compells me
And when I'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars

I see the shepherd Moses in the Pharohs court
I hear his call for freedom for the people of the Lord

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad
I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul

I see the young missionary and the angry spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear

I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
I see the sisters standing by the dying man's side

I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door

I see the man of sorrows and his long troubled road
I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
and when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
I want to be one of them
I want to be one of them
I want to be one of them
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Can everybody be saved?

Cause Way Thursday
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STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters

If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.
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STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a BBQ, a woman stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics);.....she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die.... they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally. He said the t rick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember these steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke .

No w doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S * Ask the individual to SMILE.
T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999/911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Stick out Your Tongue
Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other , that is also an indication of a stroke.

A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this sends it to 10 people, you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

Somebody lost the 'Press Release' - the MEDIA were a 'no-show'

The Way Wednesday
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PRI RELEASES GROUNDBREAKING VIDEO
by Colin Mason

On January 22nd, 2008, PRI’s camera crew was at the March for Life, documenting what the secular media consistently refuses to cover. While we were there, we noticed an incredible amount of young pro-lifers, bringing their spirit of joy, hope, and energy to the event.

Feminist organizations keep insisting that pro-lifers are not connecting with America’s youth, and that our message is old and out-of-touch. We decided to prove them wrong by focusing our video almost solely on pro-life youth at this year’s March for Life, and letting them speak for themselves.

The results were nothing less than extraordinary. We were impressed by the vigor, the intelligence, and the courage that these youth displayed in their univocal support for the pro-life cause. They were frankly astonished that pro-choicers felt so confident about their grip on young minds, and they said as much to us.
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[5:19]

'CLICK' on the above > and witness reality
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As far as we know, we at PRI are the first pro-lifers in the history of the movement to conduct this kind of research at the March for Life.

Watch PRI’s groundbreaking work and discover why Steven Mosher, PRI’s president, has said: “anybody who thinks that Roe vs. Wade will not be overturned soon should watch this video. The future voters of America are pro-life.”

Colin Mason is the Director for Media Production at PRI.

in the presence of angels

Vid Way Tuesday
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This is an exciting version of the prayer to Mary. I've not heard this style of this hymn before. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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[1:28]

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'CLICK' on the above > and listen to the rich vocal harmonies of these young ladies

Baby, oh baby!

Your Way Monday
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Choosing Life at the Movies

2007 could be remembered as the Year of Pro-Life Cinema.

Mark Moring | posted 1/22/2008 in Christianity Today e-zine
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the below is a condensed version of the article. [Read entire article 'here']
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To some, it was a year of war movies and "statement" flicks—including In the Valley of Elah, Lions for Lambs, and Rendition. But others noticed a different trend: In some ways, 2007 was the Year of Pro-Life Cinema.

From the church-friendly Bella to the raunchy Knocked Up, film after film depicted its main character facing an unplanned pregnancy and opting not for abortion, but for carrying the unborn child to term. Children of Men kicked off the year with a dystopian sci-fi tale in which Earth's entire population is infertile; no babies have been born in 18 years. In Waitress, Keri Russell plays Jenna, who ends up with an unwanted pregnancy from her abusive husband. Knocked Up is an R-rated comedy that's as crass as it gets, making it the year's most unlikely "pro-life" film.

The tender Bella celebrates friendship, family, and, most of all, life. In August Rush, Keri Russell plays another mom facing an unplanned pregnancy, this time as a single woman. Capping off the year was Juno, featuring Ellen Page as the title character—a whip-smart teen with an unplanned baby growing inside. What's more, Waitress, Knocked Up, August Rush, and Juno all prominently feature ultrasound images showing the child at various stages of development—powerful images that in real life have helped many young mothers decide against abortion and choose life instead.

Has Hollywood Gone Pro-Life?
Does this all add up to a Hollywood "trend"? Have Tinseltown's filmmakers, oft regarded as liberals and frequently blasted as purveyors of immorality, gone pro-life? It at least represents some changing perspectives and plot lines. Gerard Baker of London's Times said this about Knocked Up and Waitress: "While most women in real life will choose to have an abortion in these circumstances, neither film features any consideration of a termination. … This has some feminists outraged."

While several Christians in the industry applaud the pro-life choices depicted in these films, they're reluctant to call it a trend. "There's no question that after a polarizing 30-year battle over issues like abortion, we're seeing a new environment in Hollywood and in the culture in general," says filmmaker and media guru Phil Cooke. Rob Johnston, professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, notes that with the exception of Bella, these films aren't being made by Christians. " The church cannot take credit for this newfound interest [in pro-life storylines]," says Johnston, author of Reframing Theology and Film.

Craig Detweiler, Johnston's colleague at Fuller and author of A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture, says the "trend" may simply be a reflection of good storytelling principles—especially in comedies like Knocked Up. "Comedies almost always end with weddings and births," says Detweiler.

Sister Rose Pacatte, director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies, was especially struck by the pro-life themes beneath the muck and persistent f-bombs of Knocked Up. "Knocked Up speaks the language of today to the people of today," says Pacatte. "Sometimes Christians judge a movie to be 'anti-life' on the face of it, but if they enter the story, they may find something completely life-affirming."

Original, perhaps, but is it countercultural? "There is a general impulse in screenwriting to go against the grain," says Brett McCracken, a film critic for ChristianityTodayMovies.com. Whatever is driving Hollywood's writers and filmmakers, it's good to see more movies affirming the sanctity of life.

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Got teens in the house? Lead them to truth. CS-2

My Way Sunday
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This project in case studies started with yesterday's 'sample'. I hope you're ready - I think this one is much more challenging. Occasionally, some of these case studies you will be loaded with controversy. As you examine these, be sure to allow for differences of opinion.

Be aware that some topics will bring out responses you may not have anticipated. Be ready! Anticipate!

What you, thinking ahead, think would be 'wrong' responses can be a 'teaching' moment. Ask questions that guide thought. Be prepared to find resources that explain more completely the issues at hand.

Ready?

Set?

Go!
. . .
Following-up from yesterday's sample case, we are again going to talk about abortion.

Note: The characters in this case are middle 20's
Janet had been living out of wedlock with Tom for two years. She loves Tom very much. The past few weeks Janet had been attending a church where she had first become a Christian and then a church member. Tom was not interested in church, but he didn't mind if Janet wanted to go.

One evening after a long talk with her pastor, Janet came home and told Tom' We either have to get married immediately, or one of us needs to move out." Tom reluctantly chose marriage.

A few months after the wedding Janet became pregnant. A few days after finding out she was pregnant she was told she had cancer. Her doctor recommended an abortion.

Janet decided to talk with her pastor about her situation. He suggested that she get another opinion from a doctor who was a Christian. The second gynecologist said, "if you don't have an abortion, we can't give you chemotherapy. We can't guarantee you'll live for more than two years without chemotherapy."

Tom insisted that Janet get an abortion. Janet was unsure. She sought the advise of more doctors. Five out of seven strongly advised abortion. Janet decided to carry the baby. She believed God would protect her.

After making this difficult decision, Janet sought out a life-long friend for support, wisdom, and encouragement.
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1. How would you feel about Janet's decision to keep the baby?

2. How would you feel if you were Janet? Her husband?

3. If you were the friend Janet turned to, what could you say or do to be a support to her?

4. What do you think is God's part in this whole story?
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Cases Originally Copyrighted by Jim Burns 1987 - permission granted to use in work with teens.
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There are many 'feelings' that surface when we look at issues like this. Pray for guidance as you review the issues in this particular case study. God be with you!
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FYI - next week's case will look at an alcoholic mother
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Got teens in the house? Lead them to truth. CS-1

Any Way Saturday
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Case studies are tools that can bring biblical principles to life. Today, Saturday, I am going to give a sample case for you to read and review and think about. Tomorrow, Sunday, I will have another Case for you to study. It will be the first in a series of such studies which I will present on subsequent Sundays. Various topics will be covered.

If you use these in a family setting with teenagers, be aware of certain dynamics that develop. Girls will see and think about things very differently than will your boys. When using these, someone should first read the Case aloud to the others. Then the questions can be discussed.
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Fitting in with the events of this past week, today's topic is: Abortion

Update FYI addition: Linda and Jerry in this case are High School seniors.
When Linda told Jerry she was pregnant he was stunned. He felt horrible. He felt responsible and really didn't know what to do. His options weren't very attractive.

You see, Jerry had been waiting for weeks to tell Linda that he didn't love her and that he wanted to break off their relationship. He simply didn't know how to tell her. He had lingered in the relationship because he had felt so guilty about their sexual promiscuity and Linda's dependent, almost helpless attitude toward him. Jerry knew Linda would probably follow any advise he gave her concerning the pregnancy.

Since Jerry wanted out of the relationship, the easiest thing to suggest was abortion. He could even offer to pay for it. Adoption or keeping the baby would only complicate and confuse the situation.

Jerry's conscience gnawed at him because before this happened he was definitely opposed to abortion. Now he wasn't sure.

1. What would you say to Jerry?

2. Is the Christian answer to marry and try to work out the relationship? Why or why not?

3. What would be Linda's options if Jerry broke off the relationship?

4. What can people do to prevent situations like this one from happening?

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Now, get ready for tomorrow when we'll try it again.
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Cases Originally Copyrighted by Jim Burns 1987 - permission granted to use in work with teens.

Miss me? Sorry, no breaks before, during, or after

Heart Way Friday
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On this date:
in 1915, the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, inaugurated U.S. transcontinental telephone service. (Go to article.)
. . .
R&B singer Alicia Keys turns 27 years old today.
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in 1879, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about military spending by Congress. (See the cartoon and read an explanation.)

coincidental tag?

Cause Way Thursday
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TAGGED
I've been tagged by Adrienne of Adrienne's Catholic Corner.
Rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

The nearest book to me was, Finding Black and White in a World of Grays - MAKING CHOICES, Practical Wisdom for Everyday Moral Decisions, by Peter Kreeft.

On the unhappy 2nd day after the anniversary of Roe v Wade, this is what I found by following the above directions:

"...The second was childless and eager to adopt. But the first woman paid a healer to kill her child even though the childless woman said to her, 'Please do not kill your child. If you don't want her, I do.' "

Now, how's that for a passage coincidental to the calendar of events this week?

I tag:
The first 5 responders.
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let's get it right, shall we?

The Way Wednesday
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“Jane Roe” Endorses Ron Paul on Roe v. Wade Anniversary
You can read the statement by 'clicking' on the above headline.
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EXCERPT from:

Global Warming and Pagan Emptiness Cardinal George Pell on the latest hysterical substitute for religion.

Interview by Michael Gilchrist
January 2008 in The Catholic World Report
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CWR: You are one of very few public figures in this country to express open skepticism about man-made climate change and its alleged long-term effects. What is your reading of the scientific evidence for climate change? What is the basis of your skepticism?

Cardinal Pell: I am certainly skeptical about extravagant claims of impending man-made climatic catastrophes. Scientific debate is not decided by any changing consensus, even if it is endorsed by political parties and public opinion. Climate change both up and down has been occurring, probably since earth first had a climate.

Science is a process of experimentation, debate, and respect for evidence. Often it is dealing with uncertainties rather than certainties, and so its forecasts and predictions can be spectacularly wrong. We must not ignore evidence that doesn't suit our cause. Long-term weather forecasting is a notoriously imprecise exercise.

In the 1970s some scientists were predicting a new ice age because of global cooling. Today other scientists are predicting an apocalypse because of global warming. It is no disrespect to science or scientists to take these latest claims with a grain of salt. Commitment to the scientific method actually requires it.

Uncertainties on climate change abound. Temperatures in Greenland were higher in the 1940s than they are today, and the Kangerlussuaq glacier there is not shrinking but growing in size. While the ice may be melting in the Arctic, apparently it is increasing in extent in the Antarctic. Overall world temperatures have not increased since 1998 according to the statistics—whatever the case might be in particular locations.

[Read entire article 'here']
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Movies for the Next Generation by Elise Ehrhard

January 22, 2008 on www.InsideCatholic.com
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2007 saw a flurry of secular films that were unabashedly pro-life in their outlook, even when they were far from family fare. Movies such as Waitress; the raunchy, R-rated Knocked Up; Bella; and Juno all achieved measures of success with mainstream moviegoers, from the little independent surprise Bella (which was marketed to church-goers) to the blockbuster Knocked Up.

Their success was no fluke. Writers and producers today understand that any unexpectedly pregnant character in their films must choose life, if the movie is to be successful with young audiences (their most important demographic).

Not only do these films portray life as a beautiful choice; many also mock the abortion mentality for laughs. In Knocked Up, the pregnant woman's unsupportive mother tries to convince her daughter to have an abortion by citing a relative who became pregnant and "had it taken care of." The mother then adds, "And you know what? Now she has a real baby." The audience responds with nervous laughter, recognizing the woman's self-delusion about the "realness" of the aborted child.

Juno, a film Washington Post reviewer Desson Thomson praised for its "euphemism-busting candor," is even more refreshing in it honesty about abortion. Frequently in film, abortion advocates are portrayed as compassionate characters -- the only ones who really care about the young mother. Yet in Juno, the vulgarity and bitterness that is so much a part of the abortion-rights movement is personified in the receptionist Juno encounters at an abortion clinic. She is crass in her attitude toward sex as she tosses a flavored condom at Juno, only helping to cement Juno's misgivings about the procedure she's considering. [read entire entry 'here']
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Happy UN-birthday

Vid Way Tuesday
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It didn't start here, but it certainly became legal here and then. Many believe that we have no right to 'play God' - others believe they alone have the right to procreate and then destroy another's life being formed within them.

The United States Supreme Court agreed with those who wanted to be able to choose for themselves, including the right to take that life within. Can we, who expect to one day stand before the Judge of all mankind, hold firm to the belief that says we can take innocent life for any reason at all?
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(2:54)

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'CLICK' on the above > and ask, "Where do I stand?"
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