Condoms for Life ???

Frances Kissling, of the laughably named group "Catholics" for a Free Choice, has put on the full-court press once again. Capitalizing on the international AIDS conference being held in Toronto this week, she is promoting a cause called Condoms for Life.

Like most Kissling initiatives, Condoms for Life is an attack on the Catholic Church. Also typical of her work, it is a campaign that involves very few people and very little activity, but a huge public-relations offensive. She has succeeded, for instance, in arranging an interview with Voice of America.

She says the Pope’s guidelines and the Catholic Church influence many people through healthcare and should promote sexual practices that would reduce the spread of disease and human suffering.

What a good idea! The Church should promote abstinence and marital fidelity, which are undoubtedly the best ways to prevent the spread of AIDS! Gosh golly; why hasn't the Vatican thought of that!?

But wait. There are no large corporations manufacturing abstinence-related products, and making large contributions to Kissling's organization. Oh. Never mind. READ More

Doing good not easy task ...

How I resonate with the thoughts of columnist Jeannette Batz, "Business trumps spirit; heart and soul is lost" (NCR, Jan. 10). When life was simpler, it seems to me, more got done with less stress.

We in Catholic institutions are victims of the time in which we live. To do good works is not an easy task today. In the health care ministry, we are barraged by federal and state regulations that necessitate a large number of local policies and procedures.

The trusting partnership we may have felt with everyone engaged in this admirable task of caring for the sick has given way to chains of command and corporate responsibilities. READ MORE

The Roman Catholic view on justification

Justification is a divine act where God declares the sinner to be innocent of his sins. It is a legal action in that God declares the sinner righteous -- as though he has satisfied the Law of God. This justification is based entirely on the sacrifice of Christ by His shed blood: "...having now been justified by His blood..." (Rom. 5:9).¹ Justification is a gift of grace (Rom. 3:24; Titus 3:7) that comes through faith (Rom. 3:28; 5:1). Christians receive Jesus (John 1:12) and put their faith-filled trust in what Jesus did on the cross (Isaiah 53:12; 1 Pet. 2:24) and in so doing are justified by God. The Bible states that justification is not by works (Rom. 3:20, 28; 4:5; Eph. 2:8-9) because our righteous deeds are filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). Therefore, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Those who are justified are saved and salvation is a free gift (Rom. 6:23), something we cannot earn (Eph. 2:1-10). However, Roman Catholic doctrine denies justification by faith alone and says: READ MUCH MORE

Doing "Good Works" that Count !

Our Lord gave His Church a mission that is at once both simple and magnificent:

“Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Our commitment to that mission is the foundation for the Bishop’s Appeal. Every organization needs resources to accomplish its goals. For the Church in Maine, the Appeal provides the funding that enables us to share Good News and do Good works for people all over Maine — pastoral, educational, communication, and social works. These works are essential to our mission. The Appeal is not just “one more request for money”; rather, along with your parish offering, it is an essential use of your gifts. As a good steward of those gifts, you become a co-worker with the Lord. READ More

Serving Our Counties Builds Strong Families and Communities!

The Sacramento county shows a number of vacancies on county boards and commissions. Sacramento Outlook wants to encourage Christians and those in the Marketplace to pray as ask God where He might want to use you to be a blessing to our city and county. God is calling forth His love and witness of His life through those who worship and serve only Him in their walk of life. Click here !

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You are encouraged to subscribe (free) to "Headlines" - An excellent comprehensive Catholic Headlines service by Jeff Ziegler at ziegleriti@yahoo.com. Below is an example of his excellent daily work. ~ Catholic Presence

Monday, August 14, 2006

SACRED LITURGY

-- Today is the memorial of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe (1894-1941),
Conventual Franciscan, priest and martyr at Auschwitz.
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm01.htm

-- St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe founded the Militia of Mary Immaculate.
http://www.consecration.com

-- Today's readings at Mass: Ez. 1:2-5, 24-28c
(Such was the vision ofthe likeness of the glory of the Lord); Ps. 148:1-2, 11-14 (Heaven andearth are filled with Your glory); Mt. 17:22-27 (They will kill Him andbe raised ... The subjects are exempt from the tax).
http://www.usccb.org/nab/081406a.shtml

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