OSV Daily Take

Does Avatar pander to pantheists?

2009-12-21T13:24:00.003-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

I have not seen James Cameron's latest mega-movie Avatar, but I'm sure at some point I will. Not because I love science fiction but because I am the the mother of a 13-year-old boy who loves science fiction. I can do a mean Yoda impersonation thanks to many viewings of Star Wars with said son. So I was intrigued when I saw Ross Douthat's op-ed piece, "Heaven and Nature," on Avatar in the New York Times yesterday.

At first I was nodding in agreement with Douthat as he pounced on the "capitalistic excess" and Cameron's "apologia for pantheism," but by the time I got to the end I had switched sides. Douthat's argument doesn't fully hold up. Sure, I can see how Avatar with its blue-skinned beauties living in an idyllic world could make the Hollywood types swoon -- a semi-religious experience minus the religion. And yet, aren't we all, even we Christians, meant to be in some sort of spiritual communion with the natural world around us? I'm not talking about worshiping a tree, but you don't have to look too far off the beaten Catholic path to remember that one of our greats -- St. Francis of Assisi -- often waxed poetic about the wonders of the natural world, of Brother Sun and Sister Moon. I know St. Francis. St. Francis is a friend of mine. And let me tell you, St. Francis was no pantheist.

I'd even argue that Douthat's take on the "mystical Force" in Star Wars being of a pantheistic vein is off the mark. As mentioned above, I've seen my share of Star Wars and I don't get pantheism. I get good vs. evil, which inevitably brings me back to Judeo-Christian religious beliefs, not sun gods and water fairies. Same goes for Douthat's take on The Lion King, which was my son's all-time favorite movie when he was a preschooler. Yes, it focuses on the "circle of life," but there is a circle of life, whether we worship the One True God or are dabbling in New Age niceties. In fact, when I wrote my first book, Parenting a Grieving Child, I suggested parents use movies like The Lion King to help their children understand life and death.

Maybe after I view Avatar for myself, I'll see Douthat's point, although I tend to doubt it. As I see it, we are created by our Creator to live among all His other creations. We are connected -- spiritually, physically and otherwise -- whether we like it or not.

Toward the end of his column, Douthat states:

"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."

Ah, but there's the rub. Nature does take us back as dust and ash, and we become part of the circle of life.

To read Douthat's full column, click HERE.

Christmas marketing minus the Messiah

2009-12-18T10:51:00.002-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

It's funny, but about two weeks ago when I started plowing through the pile of holiday flyers that were packed inside the Sunday newspaper each week and occasionally in the weekday papers as well, I kept stopping at the Macy's ads, which said in big letters: "Believe!" And I thought to myself, Believe in what? In the fabulous perfumes they were selling for ridiculous prices? In the holiday china sets and flashy jewelry? And I considered posting about my annoyance here, but figured that maybe my heart was two sizes too small and I'd be accused of spoiling everyone's holiday cheer with my Grinchiness.

And then today I got an early Christmas present: this column by Jesuit Father James Martin in the Wall Street Journal. It takes to task all those marketers who use pieces of our Christmas message to sell their wares without actually putting anything of substance behind it.

Father Martin writes:

"The Christmas I don't like is the one most people don't: the commercial one. And this year what's been irking me are the slogans that companies are deploying in their December ad campaigns that hope to have it both ways: They're using religious themes without actually being religious. Call it faith-based advertising.

"Some aren't bad. This year J.C. Penney's ads featured the slogan 'The Joy of Giving.' (Giving is, needless to say, laudable.) But many advertisers couldn't seem to decide how religious their ads could be. Most are eager to glom onto the highly profitable Christmas angle without being Christian, which would be a challenge even for Don Draper and his 'Mad Men' copywriters. The cover of the Land's End catalog, which is bursting with preppy families who apparently divide their time between laughing dementedly, drinking steaming mugs of hot chocolate and petting horses, says: 'Make it Merry!' Make what merry? Celebrating the birth of Christ or petting a horse"

And finally, the moment I was waiting for, my least favorite ad of the year was one of Father Martin's choices for worst ad of the year: Macy's and it's ridiculous "Believe!" campaign, which tied with Eddie Bauer's "We Believe" campaign.

Here's Father Martin's take:

"The winner of this year's worst catch phrase is a tie: between Macy's and Eddie Bauer. Macy's shopping bags say, 'A million reasons to believe!' In what? What does Macy's want us to believe in? That Jesus is the Son of God? (Imagine that on a bag.)

"Nearly as maddening was the cover of this year's Eddie Bauer catalog, which proclaims 'We believe.' As with Macy's, I was eager to find out just what Eddie Bauer believed in. The Council of Chalcedon's fifth-century declaration that Jesus was fully human and fully divine? Not exactly. Page three professed the retailer's creed: 'We believe in the world's best down.'

"Of course I know that this is the way marketing works. Retailers use anything to hawk a product. And I'm sorry to be a stickler, but it's strange seeing the Christian faith being used and denied at the same time.

"Nonetheless, I try not to get too upset about it, because I don't want to let commercialism distract me from the reason to celebrate Christmas Day. Because I really do have a million reasons to believe."

Bravo, Father Martin. Thanks for being willing to be a Grinch with heart -- and faith.

Who wears the pants?

2009-12-17T15:56:00.000-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

Dockers, known the world over for its casual-Friday khakis, has found itself at the center of controversy and outrage thanks to its new "Man-ifesto" ad campaign that challenges men to "Wear the Pants." Here's what the full ad says:

"Once upon a time, men wore the pants, and wore them well. Women rarely had to open doors and little old ladies never crossed the street alone. Men took charge because that’s what they did. But somewhere along the way, the world decided it no longer needed men. Disco by disco, latte by foamy non-fat latte, men were stripped of their khakis and left stranded on the road between boyhood and androgyny. But today, there are questions our genderless society has no answers for. The world sits idly by as cities crumble, children misbehave and those little old ladies remain on one side of the street. For the first time since bad guys, we need heroes. We need grownups. We need men to put down the plastic fork, step away from the salad bar and untie the world from the tracks of complacency. It’s time to get your hands dirty. It’s time to answer the call of manhood. It’s time to wear the pants."

It may be nothing more than a smart marketing plan to grab some headlines and annoy some bloggers and columnists, or it may be something more -- and that possibility is what's stirring people up. Over at Fathers for Good, a website sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, editor Brian Caulfied writes:

"I won't over-analyze -- it is, after all, just an ad. But Madison Avenue has had a huge influence on our cultural images and thinking over the generations, and this ad may influence the cultural language in a positive way. At the very least, it has already begun a healthy dialogue about the role of men and the struggles and challenges they face in a highly sensitive, sometimes screedish, 'post-feminist' society."

Over at Love & Fidelity Network, this was the take:

"In a post-feminist revolution world, it may seem counter-cultural to hear (or see) a message such as this one plastered conspicuously on every billboard. We find it surprisingly refreshing. Some feminists bemoan the 'call of manhood' and wonder whether patriarchal norms are once again rearing their ugly heads, but we find no reason for concern. On the contrary, given its popularity already, Docker’s message could potentially launch a cultural trend where noble masculinity is once again esteemed, and viewed not as a threat, but as a valuable and enriching quality."

Not everyone is full of such high praise. Check out this commentary from the Boston Herald's "The Edge":

"While Levi Strauss is waxing romantic about the days of submissive ladies and alpha males, they step it up a notch and remind us that not only have shrewish women ruined everything, metrosexuals (read: gays) are to blame, too. Plummeting sales of pleated pants everywhere? Damn you, 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.'

"...We do need grownups - to smack some sense into the marketing department at Dockers, where they clearly have been watching too much 'Mad Men' and not enough 'Modern Family.' Sure, I like to look at Don Draper, but I don’t want to iron his slim -fits for him. Especially if they are of the antagonistic, take-back-mens-power-one-Never-Iron-Khaki-at- a- time variety."

What's your take on who wears the pants? Does the message make the man? Or is it just another typical shock-value marketing scheme from Madison Avenue? Tell us in the comment section.

Sign of the times - UPDATED

2009-12-15T16:48:00.006-05:00

UPDATED REPORT

By Mary DeTurris Poust

School officials in Taunton, Mass., are now denying that a second-grader was suspended for drawing a picture of Jesus on the cross as part of a holiday classroom assignment. Officials say the drawing in question was not the drawing of the cross, although they have not yet produced any other drawing by the student.

An updated AP story does say, however, that the cross picture (below), which officials claim was not even drawn at school but was discovered by a teacher, was cause for following "well-established protocol," including reviewing the 8-year-old's records and consulting with school psychologists. The boy allegedly put his own name on the drawing, not the name of Jesus, raising concerns.

A Boston Globe story reports:

"She (the teacher) said the drawing was seen as a potential cry for help when the student identified himself, rather than Jesus, on the cross, which prompted the teacher to alert the school’s principal and staff psychologist. As a result, the boy underwent a psychological evaluation."

The father of the boy is sticking by his story, which was reported in our original post below:

Original post:

A second-grader in Massachusetts was sent home from school earlier this month for drawing a picture of Jesus on the cross. His teacher, according to an AP story, thought the stick-figure drawing was "too violent." The assignment was to draw something that makes you think of the holiday. The Taunton, Mass., school also ordered the 8-year-old to undergo psychiatric evaluation.

The child's father said that the family had recently visited the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Mass., "where there are crucifixion statues," as if a drawing of the crucifixion should ever require some sort of explanation or defense. The boy has since been allowed to return to school after the evaluation showed that he was not a threat to himself or others.

It's funny, but no one would have blinked had that same drawing been turned in at a Catholic school, where students understand that the crucifix is a central part of our faith story, a part that cannot be separated from the more pleasant elements -- like the Incarnation and the Resurrection. My own 4-year-old regularly asks about the crucifix hanging over our church altar. It would not surprise me in the least if one of my own children came up with a similar drawing for a similar assignment.

And, sadly, it does not surprise me in this day and age that a school teacher would classify a drawing of Jesus on the cross in the same category as a drawing of a child shooting a teacher and another student. In 2008, a fifth-grade student was suspended by the Taunton school for a day for such a drawing. Jesus has been moved so far off the radar screen of society that what once was understood as a sign and symbol of the ultimate sacrifice and gift by our Savior has been turned into evidence of potential threatening behavior.

Read the full story, HERE.

Tiger Woods, pornography and the loaded gun

2009-12-14T11:28:00.004-05:00

By Russell Shaw

The sad case of Tiger Woods offers the familiar spectacle of media and the public setting a celebrity on a pedestal, then taking gleeful satisfaction in knocking him off. If this episode has redeeming value, it’s the reminder that even in this sex-obsessed culture, sexual delinquency still matters.

Strictly by accident, the Woods episode coincides with publication of a major new study, “The Effects of Pornography on Individuals, Marriage, Family, and Community,” demonstrating why it should. It is the work of Patrick F. Fagan, a senior fellow at the Family Research Council and director of its Center for Marriage and Family Research.

“Powerful and deep” is how Fagan sums up pornography’s capacity to “undermine individual and social functioning.”

The great merit of this heavily documented review of social science literature is lies in backing up its conclusions with serious scientific sources. No one who takes the time to read it can buy the liberal cliché that pornography does no harm (a companion piece, incidentally, to the conservative cliché saying guns don’t kill people, people do).

As a matter of fact, pornography, like handguns, does great harm: to its users — especially, those who become addicted — as well as to marriages, to family life, and to society as a whole. Internet pornography is today a major menace to the nation’s children, including those who become users and those victimized by sexual predators.

In brief, says Fagan, “habitual consumption of pornography can break down the relational substrates of human interaction — family, friends and society.” (Those who want to read this important document can find it at www.frc.org/pornography-effects.)

Those are psychological and sociological dimensions of the problem. Beyond them lies the dimension of the ascetical struggle. Let me explain.

Lately I’ve been writing a book about a book. The book I’ve been writing about is a small volume of meditations composed by the founder of Opus Dei, St. Josemaria Escriva, and called “The Way.” More about that some other time.

Here I note what might seem an oddity of the book. The chapter on chastity comes way up front — fourth of 46 chapters — and the topic itself receives a generous 28 “points.” Considering that other virtues are treated much later in “The Way,” why such prominent billing for chastity?

The reason is simple. The model of the interior life used by St. Josemaria is the inclined plane — start at the bottom and work your way up toward union with God. With regard to chastity, he takes the tough, realistic view that spiritual progress can’t even begin in the case of somebody who habitually and, as it were, complacently sins this way. Someone who falls occasionally, repents, resumes the struggle — yes. Someone for whom unchastity is a way of life — no.

Looking for an explanation for many seemingly unrelated problems in the religious world today? You’ll find them here — in self-deception and rationalization concerning unchastity as an obstacle to interior life.

But the idea of chastity isn’t an easy sell now, not even in religious circles. I think of a man who told me cheerfully he’d been assured by his brother, a religious order priest, that it’s impossible to sin seriously against chastity by looks. Really? The New Testament quotes Jesus like this: “I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5.28).

My guess is that many people have either forgotten that or don’t care much. Anyway, keep Tiger Woods and his family in your prayers.

Russell Shaw is an OSV contributing editor.
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Pope shares 'outrage' over Irish sex abuse cases

2009-12-11T09:29:00.002-05:00

Posted by Mary DeTurris Poust

The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI shares the same sense of "outrage, betrayal and shame" as Irish Catholics over cases of clergy sexual abuse in that country and the handling of the abuse by the Church, CNS is reporting today. A pastoral letter on the subject is planned.

From the CNS story:

"The letter 'will clearly indicate the initiatives that are to be taken in response to the situation,' said a statement issued by the Vatican Dec. 11. The statement was released after the pope and top Vatican officials spent 90 minutes meeting with Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, Northern Ireland, president of the Irish bishops' conference, and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin.

"...Pope Benedict, the statement said, 'was deeply disturbed and distressed' by the contents of a report by an independent Commission of Investigation, headed by Judge Yvonne Murphy, which looked at the handling of some 325 abuse claims in the Archdiocese of Dublin in the years 1975-2004."

Read the full CNS story HERE. To read the full statement, posted on the CNS blog, click HERE.

Undercover at Planned Parenthood

2009-12-09T13:13:00.002-05:00

Posted by Mary DeTurris Poust

No words necessary. The video and dialogue recorded here says it all. (H/T to Kathryn Jean Lopez.)

Celebrating our beliefs while respecting other traditions

2009-12-07T19:43:00.005-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

I have three children in three different types of schools -- Catholic, public and private. My junior-high son, who is in our parish school, gets a full dose of faith with his academic lessons. Today he read at the Advent prayer service. Tomorrow he will attend the school Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. My elementary-age daughter attends public school, so for her anything decorated even in basic red and green is crossing the church-state line, it seems. There will be a Winter Concert and holiday gifts, but whatever she gets in the way of faith comes from home and and Mass and the faith formation class I teach. Finally, my preschool daughter attends a Montessori school, where there is no overt religious education but where Christian ideals are incorporated into her everyday learning experience without notice or tension.

Now, as we enter the season not only of Advent and Christmas but also of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, she will get a holistic holiday experience at school. There is Christmas tree "work" (as activities in Montessori schools are known) and a Nativity set and dreidel work and Kwanzaa candles. As opposed to public school where no one is allowed to celebrate their faith traditions, our Montessori school's approach recognizes many different traditions, and that's something I can appreciate. During this season of peace and light, it seems appropriate to find a way to celebrate together rather than fight alone.

I remember when I first moved to my upstate town and sauntered in the public library one December. There was a huge menorah with all kinds of literature about Judaism. For the Christians there was a tree decorated with mice. I contacted the library to express my dismay and offered to purchase and set up a Nativity scene. I was dismissed and cast as an anti-Semite, despite the fact that I repeatedly told the library administrators that I did not want the menorah removed; I just wanted a creche added alongside it. It didn't happen that year, but someone managed to get through to them and now both faiths stand together in the entrance to the library. There is something heartening about that. Our different faiths shoulder to shoulder, as they should be as we Christians mark the season of Advent listening to the prophets of Hebrew Scripture, remembering always that we did not start out of nowhere. We started as Jews and became Christians. How can we not celebrate with our Jewish brothers and sisters at this time of year?

As we venture further into the Advent and Christmas season, it's important to recognize that while this is a holy time in the Christian faith -- preparation for and celebration of God Incarnate -- this is also a holy time for people of other faiths. We should be able to live together and respect other traditions, even if we do not accept other beliefs..

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York covered this territory in an op-ed piece in today's New York Daily News. Here's some of what he had to say about the holiday tendency to argue over our differences rather than honor them:

"Obviously, I am enthusiastic about 'keeping Christ in Christmas.' For those of us who believe that Jesus, the Son of God and our Savior, was born to Mary in a stable in Bethlehem 2009 years ago, we never forget what it is and why it is that we are celebrating. Christ must remain our focus. We must never let the commercial aspects of Christmas overwhelm us or cause us to think that the gift-giving and the parties are all that matters. I know that for me, as much as I look forward to spending time with family and friends, exchanging gifts, sharing Christmas dinner and cheer, it all really begins deep down inside, with faith, hope and love, as we thank God for the gift of Christ, and share this sacred present with others.

"However, many others don't believe as we do but still wish to celebrate this wonderful time of the year. Parties, decorations, holiday specials, gifts - I'm all for it!

"Still we see the public relations battle, the calls to spurn this retailer in favor of that, the angry denunciations of those who wish to sing 'Silent Night' or 'The First Noel' at a town event. Even more troublesome is that this season, when we should be celebrating peace, we find instead so many ways to be at odds with one another. It really doesn't have to be this way."

He's right. It doesn't have to be this way. My preschool daughter knows it. It would be nice if we adults could learn the same.

To read Archbishop Dolan's full column, click HERE.

Pornography is 'quiet family killer'

2009-12-04T13:40:00.002-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

We probably didn't need a study to know this, but I guess it helps the cause if there's something official to back it up. A new study entitled "The Effects of Pornography on Individuals, Marriage, Family and Community" has found that pornography "erodes the family, corrupts men's sense of normal sexuality and is frequently a major factor in most divorces," according to a story on Catholic News Agency. The Family Research Council (FRC) produced the study.

Psychologist Patrick F. Fagan, author of the story and director of the Center for Research on Marriage and Religion at FRC, called pornography a "quiet family killer."

From the CNA story:

"The study reports that men who regularly view pornography have a higher tolerance for abnormal sexuality, including rape, sexual aggression and sexual promiscuity.

"Married men involved in pornography report feeling less satisfied with their marital relations and less emotionally attached to their wives, the study says. It also notes that men who regularly use pornography or women who engage in 'cybersex' show increased infidelity."

In an FRC statement, Fagan said:

“This is a ground-breaking review of what pornography costs families trying to create a life together. Men, women and sometimes even children are saturated by sexual content, and more significantly, are told that it has no real effect. It's just a little amusement.

"Pornography corrodes the conscience, promotes distrust between husbands and wives and debases untold thousands of young women. It is not harmless escapism but relational and emotional poison.”

To read the full CNA article, click HERE. To read the full FRC statement, click HERE.

Same sex 'marriage' defeated in New York

2009-12-02T20:04:00.003-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

The New York State Senate rejected a push for same sex 'marriage' in the state today in a stunning 38-24 vote. All 30 Republicans plus eight Democrats voted no on a bill that would have allowed people of the same sex to "marry" each other.

In the spirit of full disclosure, you should know that my husband, Dennis, is director of communications for the New York State Catholic Conference and has lobbied against this bill. We had first-hand reports that grassroots efforts by the Catholic Conference and other pro-marriage organizations resulted in a flood of calls to senators in the days leading up to the vote.

In a statement released by the New York State Catholic Conference, Executive Director Richard E. Barnes said:

“On behalf of the Bishops of New York State, we are extremely pleased and grateful that the New York State Senate in a bipartisan vote rejected the concept that marriage can be anything other than the union of one man and one woman.

“While the Catholic Church rejects unjust discrimination against homosexual men and women, there is no question that marriage by its nature is the union of one man and one woman. Advocates for same-sex ‘marriage’ have attempted to portray their cause as inevitable. However, it has become clear that Americans continue to understand marriage the way it has always been understood, and New York is not different in that regard. This is a victory for the basic building block of our society.”

New York follows 31 other states that have upheld marriage as being between only one woman and one man. Maine was the most recent state to put same sex 'marriage' to a vote and saw the people overturn a law passed by the legislature despite being outspent by their opponents two to one.

10 top OSV stories for November

2009-12-02T15:35:00.003-05:00

Here are the top 10 visited OSV newsweekly stories for November 2009:

1. A covert flight Operation Peter Pan

2. The end of the world as we know it

3. US bishops anti-poverty

4. Abortion clinic director

5. Investigations have some religious on edge

6. Setting a new standard for Catholic colleges

7. The children of Pedro Pan

8. What’s behind the Vatican decision to receive Anglicans

9. Signs of the Times

10. Author distills the importance of attention

Colbert, aliens and the Vatican

2009-12-02T11:48:00.003-05:00

Did you see the Vatican astronomer last night on Colbert Report talking about the search for extraterrestrial life?

Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno did a great job, in what could have been a tough forum, explaining the Church's views on the possibility of finding life elsewhere in the universe.

And he also plugged his latest book, "Heavens Proclaim: The Vatican and Astronomy" (OSV, $39.95), which was published in English by Our Sunday Visitor.

Check it out.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Gold, Frankincense and Mars - Guy Consolmagno

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

U.S. Speedskating

Tips for keeping the true spirit of the season

2009-12-01T16:09:00.004-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

Here in upstate New York, we saw our first snow flurries of the season today, a sure sign that winter is fast approaching -- and so is Christmas. Despite our best efforts to make Advent a time of waiting and listening, preparing and pondering, it's easy to slip into the gift-buying and decorating frenzy that seems to take society by storm even before there's frost on the pumpkins.

So this season I'll be watching out for helpful blogs and stories that give the rest of us some much-needed guidance on finding the silent and sacred spaces of Advent amid the chaos and commercialism.

Over on Days of Deepening Friendship, Jesuit Father James Martin is blogging this week on "From Secular to Sacred: How to Enjoy Christmas and Not Lose Your Mind." Check out his suggestions for slowing down the rush of the season by clicking HERE. This site will be running an "Advent Retreat," so check back for other postings as we continue on our journey.

Fathers For Good, courtesy of the Knights of Columbus, offers tips in "Make This the Best Christmas Ever." This post includes lots of fun activities for families. No one says we can't be sacred and silly. Thoughts on Christmas caroling, sledding and watching old movies are mixed in with more serious suggestions about Advent rituals and volunteer projects. Find them all by clicking HERE.

And please share your own tips and traditions in the comment section. Stay tuned for more Advent and Christmas suggestions as the season progresses.

Bill Donohue: Effective and gutsy, or a Catholic embarrassment?

2009-11-30T11:06:00.002-05:00

By Russell Shaw

For 16 of the 36 years the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights has been in business, it’s been headed by William Donohue. In that time Bill Donohue has put his own distinctive mark on this feisty anti-defamation organization, on the Catholic Church in the United States and on American culture as a whole. No small achievement, to say the least.

What does Donohue do? Here is a sentence from a recent League news release quoting its leader: “The real story here is not the corruption of Harvard — that’s old hat — the real story is the president of the United States choosing a morally challenged anti-Catholic homosexual to join his team.”

In case you wonder, that was Donohue’s trademark way of protesting President Obama’s choice of one Kevin Jennings as the administration’s “safe schools czar.” Among other things, it turned out, Jennings was a member of a homosexual activist group called ACT UP and donor to an ACT UP display featured at the Harvard art museum. In case it’s slipped your mind, it was ACT UP which in a notorious 1989 incident disrupted Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and desecrated the Eucharist.

It’s hardly a surprise that Bill Donohue, holder of a doctorate in sociology from New York University and a former college professor, is not universally liked. There are two obvious reasons. One reason is his take-no-prisoners way of expressing himself. The other reason is that he gets his facts straight. Take my advice: If you are thinking about signing up in the culture war, be sure to join Donohue’s side.

But make no mistake — this is not a mean man. Friends of Bill Donohue (full disclosure: I count myself among them) know him as a kind and gentlemanly fellow. Trash the Catholic Church, however, and beware. Donohue in action plays rough.

A few zingers drawn from his new book “Secular Sabotage: How Liberals Are Destroying Religion and Culture in America” (Faith Words, $21.99) may serve to suggest the flavor of the man:

— On the people whom he gently terms “radical secular activists”: “That they have absolutely nothing to offer in the way of an alternative social order not only reveals their intellectual bankruptcy, it explains their rage. This is the revenge of the nihilists.”

— On college administrators who take steps to suppress religious expression on their campuses: “Some college officials are totalitarians.”

— On old-line Catholic dissidents who keep up their complaints about the Church year after year: “What would make them happy? It’s not clear even the dissidents know at this point. ... They could join another religion, but that wouldn’t be as much fun.”

“Secular Sabotage” is chock-full of anecdotes drawn from skirmishes in the culture war. Bill Donohue and the Catholic League have played a high-profile role in many of these. If your dudgeon is low and your blood needs to boil, read this book.

Many Catholics deeply admire Donohue, seeing him as a gutsy and effective champion of the Church in the face of rampant anti-Catholicism. Others find him an embarrassment or worse — too loud, too outspoken, a spike in the wheels of Catholic surrender to the culture of secularism.

Count me in the first group. In a devastating chapter on Catholic “self-sabotage,” Donohue writes of those Catholic church-wreckers of the ‘60s and ‘70s who “gave it their best shot and they lost. ... It’s up to the rest of us to clean up the mess they left behind.”

Bill Donohue is working hard at that. We all should.

Russell Shaw is an OSV contributing editor.

Pope reflects on meaning of Advent in everyday lives

2009-11-30T10:09:00.000-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

Whenever I read a homily or reflection or writing by Pope Benedict XVI, I am struck by his gift for reaching out and touching the hearts, minds and spirits of everyday Catholics who are struggling to make their faith real amid the busyness of modern life. It is amazing to me that this pope could be so in tune with what I'm going through in my frantic suburban family home. His words during vespers for the first Sunday of Advent struck a chord for me today especially as I ponder how to keep Advent front and center in what is becoming an increasingly secular season in the world around us.

From Pope Benedict's homily at the Vatican Basilica, as reported by the Vatican Information Service:

"In daily life we all know the experience of having little time for the Lord, and little time for ourselves. We end up becoming absorbed by 'doing'. Is it not often true that it is activity itself that possesses us, society with its multiple distractions that monopolizes our attention? Is it not true that we dedicate a lot of time to entertainment and leisure activities of various kinds?

"Advent, this potent liturgical period we are entering, invites us to remain silent as we come to appreciate a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are signs God addresses to us, signs of the care He has for each of us. How often does God make us aware of some aspect of His love! To maintain what we might call an 'inner diary' of this love would be a beautiful and rewarding task in our lives. Advent invites us and encourages us to contemplate the living Lord. Should not the certainty of His presence help us to see the world with different eyes?"

Later in the homily, the Holy Father addressed the Advent significance of "waiting," something that can be difficult for those of us unaccustomed to waiting for anything, be it a long-sought-after job or a big-screen TV:

"There are many different ways to wait. If the present time is not filled with meaning, the wait risks becoming unbearable. If we await something, but at this moment have nothing - in other words, if the present is empty - then every passing instant seems exaggeratedly long and the wait becomes an over-heavy burden because the future remains too uncertain. When, on the other hand, time has meaning and at every instant we perceive something specific and valid, then the joy of waiting makes the present richer," the pope said.

Jesus, he said, is "present among us and speaks to us in many ways: in Sacred Scripture, in the liturgical year, in the saints, in the events of daily life, in all creation, which changes its appearance depending upon whether [we see Him] behind it or whether [we see it] shrouded in the fog of an uncertain origin and uncertain future."

May we all push past the "fog" in our lives to a place where we can clearly see God's hand at work in the daily events of our days. Do you have some Advent traditions you want to share? Do you have any tips for keeping the spirit of the season strong? Please share in the comment section.

U.S. bishop's unveil online Advent resources

2009-11-24T15:22:00.002-05:00

As an addendum to Mary's earlier post about getting a jump start on Advent, the U.S. bishops' conference has just unveiled a slick site with resources for celebrating Advent and Christmas this year: www.usccb.org/advent.

From the press release:

For the second consecutive year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has created a Website www.usccb.org/advent/ with suggestions for daily prayer, reading, reflection and action throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons.
The focal points of the site are the interactive calendars for the Advent season, which begins with the first Sunday of Advent, November 29, and the Christmas season, which ends on January 12 with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Clicking on each date on the calendar brings up a menu of resources for reading, prayer, reflection and action. Another highlight of the site is the Festival of Lesson and Carols, which can be heard live online or downloaded for later listening.
The Website includes biographies from Catholic News Service on many of the saints whose feasts are celebrated during the Advent and Christmas seasons along with audio “Saint of the Day” podcasts from Franciscan Radio.
Other resources on the Web site include a list of recommend holiday-themed movies from the USCCB’s Office for Film and Broadcasting, prayers and blessings from the USCCB publication Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, and suggestions for remembering the needs of immigrants and the poor throughout the season.

Facts and myths about the call to religious life

2009-11-24T09:49:00.003-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, executive director of the National Religious Vocation Conference, addressed the U.S. bishops at their meeting last week to report on the wide-scale national vocation study his organization undertook.

The landmark study, Recent Vocations to Religious Life, looked at "who is entering religious life today and the characteristics of the religious institutes that are receiving and retaining new members."

From Brother Bednarczyk's address:

"It is no surprise to anyone that men and women religious are a shrinking and aging population. Compared to the mid-sixties when the number of religious reached its peak at about 23,000 priests, 12,500 brothers and about 180,000 sisters and nuns, the religious population has decreased by approximately 65 percent. According to the latest statistics, there are less than 13,000 religious priests, 5,000 religious brothers, and 59,000 religious sisters and nuns.[1] About 75 percent of men and more than 90 percent of women religious are age 60 and over. For those men and women religious who are under 60, the majority are in their 50s, with only 1 percent under 40.

"Although the number of religious is considerably lower, we need to look at this phenomenon within the broad spectrum of religious life. The truth is that throughout history men and women religious have always made up a small percentage of our Catholic population. The temptation is to compare the high numbers of the fifties and sixties as the norm, when in actuality, they were an anomaly. It is my hope that this study will serve as a more realistic benchmark for tracking future trends in religious vocations for this century."

The research, he said, confirmed what his organization has been tracking for several years: Younger people are beginning to look at religious life as "a viable option." He explained that the numbers show that millennial Catholics are looking for more "traditional style" communities:

"Newer members say they are drawn to religious life primarily by a sense of call, a desire for prayer, spiritual growth, and clearly for younger members, a deeper commitment to the Church. More than three fourths of institutes of men (78 percent) and two-thirds of institutes of women (66 percent) have at least one person currently in initial formation. As a testimony to the strength of diversity in religious life, these institutes represent a wide variety of lifestyles, ministries, charisms, and spiritualities. The institutes though that are most successful in attracting and retaining members at this time, would be characterized as following a more traditional style of religious life in which members live together in community and participate in daily Eucharist, pray the Divine Office, and engage in devotion al practices together. They also wear a religious habit, work together in common apostolates, and are explicit about their fidelity to the Church and its teachings. All of these characteristics and practices are especially attractive to the young people who are entering religious life today, the members of the millennial generation."

The read Brother Bednarczyk's full address, click HERE.

To read "Ten Myths About Religious Life...," click HERE. And to find resources from the study, click HERE.

Archbishop Wuerl on same sex 'marriage' law

2009-11-23T10:15:00.003-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., argued forcefully in a Washington Post op-ed piece yesterday that if the D.C. City Council passes a same-sex "marriage" law, as expected, it must include religious liberty protections sufficient to allow Catholic Charities to continue its historic ministry to the people of the District.

From Archbishop Wuerl's op-ed:

"While we do not agree with the council on redefining marriage, we recognize that it is firmly committed to opening marriage to homosexual couples. We are asking that new language be developed that more fairly balances different interests -- those of the city to redefine marriage and those of faith groups so that they can continue to provide services without compromising their deeply held religious teachings and beliefs. The archdiocese has not been alone in requesting broader language. Other groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and nationally recognized legal scholars all called for stronger protections for religious freedom in their testimony on the original bill.
"For the archdiocese and Catholic Charities, two core tenets of our faith are at the heart of our concerns: our understanding of the nature of marriage and our commitment to expressing Christ's love through service to others. Under the legislative language before the D.C. Council, the archdiocese would be forced to choose between these two principles...
"We recognize that the council is likely to legalize same-sex marriage. It is the hope of the archdiocese and Catholic Charities that council members will work with us to find a way to better balance interests so religious organizations that have served this city well for many decades may continue to provide services without compromising the tenets of their faith" (Read the full piece by clicking HERE.)

The New York Times, not surprisingly, disagreed with the Archbishop's reasoning in an editorial today, which you can read HERE.

Get a jump on your Advent plans

2009-11-19T13:34:00.004-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

Advent is right around the corner. As a busy mom and a faith formation teacher, I'm always looking for new ideas for bringing this season to life for my family and my students. Check out a sample issue of OSV's Advent Take Out: Family Faith on the Go by clicking HERE. I'm already planning to give the construction paper Advent wreath a try with my fourth-grade class.

You can also get more Advent ideas by going to OSV4Me by clicking HERE. You'll find general information on the season, prayers and projects, such as how to make a Jesse Tree, something I've always been intimidated to try, and how to make Advent star sugar cookies.

Another great site to check out for Advent is Karen Edmisten's "No-Panic Advent Series." You'll find everything from standards like the Advent wreath and Jesse Tree to more unusual ways to mark the season, like the Jesus Stocking or St. Lucia Bread, and a complete list of great Advent books. Check it all out by clicking HERE.

A close Encounter of the best kind

2009-11-17T13:41:00.003-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

At a time when marriage is under attack, it would be negligent on my part not to tell you about something that has the power to help husbands and wives fully live out their sacramental commitment. That's why today I wanted to share with you the post from my personal blog, Not Strictly Spiritual, on the Worldwide Marriage Encounter my husband and I attended this past weekend:

When Dennis and I first started dating, after being friends for a while, everything about us seemed in sync. We often said the exact same thing at the exact same time, bantered back and forth like a well-rehearsed comedy team, wanted all the same things out of life, even bought each other the same card on our first Valentine's Day together. And it was not a traditional, common card. It was one of those eccentric artsy cards. It was totally unexpected and happily surprising when we realized that we were so in tune with each other that even our card shopping reflected it.

Soon after we were married, we moved across the country -- from New York to Texas -- to start our life fresh. We eventually bought a house under construction and, not long after, had our first child. Life began to get more stressful and less carefree. After struggling through a difficult miscarriage and a year of medical issues following it, we had another child, another move back across the country, and, finally, a third child when I was almost 43 years old. To say that life was very full -- and sometimes very difficult -- is a monumental understatement.

The blissful feelings of those early days, when we each recognized the other as soul mate, best friend and lifelong love, started to get buried under the day-to-day obligations and normal stresses that come with parenting and professional lives, volunteer service and home owning. It was becoming harder and harder for us to see the couple we had once been, despite our deep and constant love for each other. Our actions, tone and words didn't reflect the love we knew was there, so we decided that we would do something we had talked about now and then but never pursued seriously: attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend.

Even up until the moment we entered the Don Bosco Retreat Center at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, the two of us were wondering if this weekend could really make a dramatic difference in our busy lives. Marriage Encounter veterans had told us again and again that it would be life-changing, transforming, but we had our doubts. We vowed to give it a 100 percent anyway and see what happened.

I am here to tell you that it was, in fact, everything promised. While the room wasn't stellar and the food was mediocre at best, the weekend itself was amazing, restorative, renewing, and, yes, transforming. Over a period of two days, Dennis and I explored ideas and feelings we hadn't thought about in a while -- or ever, in some cases. The weekend didn't dredge up problems or dwell on the negatives; in a gentle and life-affirming way, it gave us an opportunity to stand side by side looking out at the future as one. Through the powerful stories and examples of our presenting couples and priest, we learned how to create a married life of joy, passion and excitement even in the midst of our daily challenges and struggles.

Marriage Encounter is not about sharing your deepest feelings with strangers, something Dennis feared when I first started suggesting we attend. It's about sitting together, as a couple, away from everyone else and really giving each other some much-deserved attention, something that had been sorely lacking in our lives. We left the retreat center with the resolve to put into practice all the skills and tools we'd been given in order to make radical changes in the way we live out our marriage.

The really interesting thing is that so far my excitement and hopefulness and anticipation for what's ahead for us is actually continuing to increase even though the weekend is behind us. I kind of expected that after we left our Marriage Encounter cocoon, we'd be right back to where we started, but that's absolutely not the case, and if you look at the presenting couples, you can see that this new reality is not a flash-in-the-pan kind of thing. We were in a great place when we left Stony Point on Sunday night, but I have to say that today we are in an even better place, and I find myself giddy -- much as I did in those early days of our relationship -- over what I realize I still share with Dennis. That's not to say we don't expect fights or setbacks. We wouldn't be human if we could live a perfect life. But we do expect to be able to manage those setbacks better and to bring real healing to any divisions threaten to pull us apart, the kind of healing that can actually make our bond stronger.

We will be married 15 years in April. The WWME weekend was the best anniversary gift we could have given to each other. We can look toward the future and see a life where the intense feelings of love and our joy in being a couple do not have to diminish with age or time or struggles. Because we have made a decision to love, because we have been reminded of our great gift and given what we need to keep that gift alive and flourishing, because we have put God back into his rightful place in our marriage, nothing seems impossible anymore.

If you have not yet made a Marriage Encounter weekend -- or if you made one a long time ago -- sign up today. You will never regret it, I can promise you that, and will more likely wish you had done it years ago. We did ours through the Archdiocese of New York, which will be sponsoring 2010 weekends Feb. 12-14, April 16-18, Aug. 13-15, and Nov. 5-7. Call 914-524-7088 for more information on NY weekends. For those outside the archdiocese, click HERE to go to the Worldwide Marriage Encounter national website, which will connect you with local ME weekends and resources.

Remembering murdered Jesuits on 20th anniversary

2009-11-16T09:32:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that it was 20 years ago today that six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter were brutally murdered in El Salvador. It seems like yesterday, and it seems like a lifetime ago. Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, as chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, today announced that that the USCCB wants to commemorate "the lives and work of the six Jesuits and their collaborators.”

Bishop Hubbard also previously sent letters to Congress, thanking the sponsors and cosponsors of House and Senate resolutions (H.R. 761 and S. 321) remembering the murder and commemorating the lives of those killed.

The letters quote Pope Benedict XVI's most recent encyclical, Charity in Truth, stating:

“Charity is at the heart of the Church's social doctrine. … [Charity] gives real substance to the personal relationship with God and with neighbor; it is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones).”

Bishop Hubbard went on to write,“It is precisely this kind of charity that was exemplified by the Jesuits in El Salvador — a commitment to a more just and peaceful society where the human needs and rights of people are acknowledged and respected."

The legacy of the Jesuits killed in El Salvador "continues to be embodied in the many women and men who still seek a more just, peaceful and secure world where the life and dignity of all persons is defended," Bishop Hubbard wrote.

To read the full letter, click HERE.

Why priests should be 'ecclesiastical professionals'

2009-11-13T13:07:00.003-05:00

By Russell Shaw

Speaking to 800 priests at the shrine of Fatima in Portugal, the cardinal who heads the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy recently leveled criticism at priests for whom the priesthood has become “a kind of ecclesiastical profession which they carry out as civil servants.” Having only news reports to go on, I strongly suspect Cardinal Claudio Hummes said more than just that. I certainly hope so, because, although the comment contains much truth, it is seriously inadequate as it stands. In this current Year for Priests it’s important to point out why.

My biggest objection to the remark as reported concerns the slighting use of the expression “ecclesiastical profession.” What I suspect the cardinal meant — and what’s true enough — is that the priesthood isn’t just one more job alongside others. In making this perfectly reasonable point, however, it’s a mistake to say or imply that there’s something intrinsically wrong with, or at least inferior about, professions and jobs in general.

The Christian ideal of work is to do one’s job, whatever it may be, for the glory of God and the service of other human beings. Many people in many lines of work try to do exactly that each day. There is every reason for priests to try to do it, too. Looking down our noses at the notion of “profession” isn’t helpful to that.

Nor is it helpful to suggest that there’s something wrong with having priests approach their work with a professional attitude. To be professional means doing one’s best to meet high standards of excellence in one’s work. People who aren’t professional are prepared to settle for sloppy, careless, just-getting-by performance. Surely this is not what we want of our priests.

I also take exception to the slap at priests who function as “civil servants” in the Church. Over the years I’ve encountered many of these men in chancery offices, national organizations, the Holy See, and other settings, and — making allowance for the occasional time-server — I’ve found many to be admirable priests whose administrative tasks are as much an expression of their priestly commitment as preparing a homily or teaching a catechism class.

True, priests in this situation often feel a need for some form of directly pastoral work on the side — to keep their hand in, as it were — and I admire them for that. But this is not a reflection on their office work as such.

Around the time Cardinal Hummes made his remarks, Pope Benedict XVI also spoke to a group of Brazilian bishops about the priesthood. In this case, I have the advantage of having the full text of the pope’s remarks, and I find them notably more nuanced and helpful than the snippets attributed to the cardinal.

The pope’s central statement was this: “The role of the priest is essential and irreplaceable for the proclamation of the word and for the celebration of the sacraments.” That was said in the context of a discourse touching on questions raised about lay and clergy roles in the changing circumstances of today’s Church, including the shortage of priests in some places.

Against this background, Benedict insisted, there is need for a “harmonious, correct and clear deepening of the relationship between the common priesthood [the baptismal priesthood or priesthood of the faithful] and the ministerial [ordained] priesthood.” The more aware lay people become of their responsibilities in the Church, he said, “the more clearly stand out the priest’s identity and his irreplaceable role.”

Here’s a challenge and an opportunity for us all.

The Stupak Amendment and the Church

2009-11-13T09:44:00.003-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

Abortion rights activists aren't the only ones in an uproar over the passage of the Stupak Amendment as part of the House's healthcare reform bill. All those folks who scream about separation of Church and state whenever it suits their needs are making their voices heard, charging that the bishops are strong-arming the nation. (Even writing that sentence makes me chuckle.) Anyway, John J. Pitney Jr. over at NRO's The Corner has an excellent blog post on the sadly mistaken notion that people of faith are not allowed to voice their opinions in the public square.

He writes:

"Prof. Marci Hamilton of the Cardozo School of Law writes that the Stupak amendment 'violates the Constitution’s separation of church and state. The anti-abortion movement is plainly religious in motivation, and its lobbyists and spokespersons represent religious groups, as is illustrated by the fact that the most visible lobbyists in the Stupak Amendment’s favor have been the Catholic Bishops.'

"By this standard, Professor Hamilton would have to conclude that the 1964 Civil Rights Act is also unconstitutional. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his Southern Christian Leadership Conference, along with other religious leaders and groups, led the fight for its enactment. 'We needed the help of the clergy, and this was assiduously encouraged,' said Senator Hubert Humphrey. 'I have said a number of times, and I repeat it now, that without the clergy, we couldn’t have possibly passed this bill.'"

The Prof. Hamilton to whom he refers has been a leader in the national movement to open civil statute of limitations in sex abuse cases nationwide and has been single-minded in her focus on the Catholic Church alone. Of course, all of that becomes more clear when you read her latest anti-Catholic comments regarding the Stupak Amendment.

To bolster his point, Pitney includes this stunning statement by none other than Barack Obama:

"[S]ecularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Williams Jennings Bryant, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King — indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history — were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause. So to say that men and women should not inject their 'personal morality' into public policy debates is a practical absurdity. Our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition."

Read the full post HERE.

Vatican explores possibility of extraterrestrial life

2009-11-12T13:25:00.004-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

I know several Catholics who've told me that the discovery of extraterrestrials somewhere in the universe would have the potential to shake their faith. I wonder if the Vatican was sensing the potential for something like that on a much larger scale, when it brought together astronomers, physicists, biologists and other scientists to discuss the possibility of alien life forms and what such a discovery might mean for the Catholic Church.

The recent five-day conference looked not only at the origins of life in the universe but also the potential for such life to exist beyond what we now know. According to the Associated Press, Jesuit Father Jose Gabriel Funes, an astronomer and director of the Vatican Observatory, said, "The questions of life's origins and of whether life exists elsewhere in the universe are very suitable and deserve serious consideration."

From the AP story:

"Funes said the possibility of alien life raises 'many philosophical and theological implications' but added that the gathering was mainly focused on the scientific perspective and how different disciplines can be used to explore the issue...

"Thirty scientists, including non-Catholics, from the U.S., France, Britain, Switzerland, Italy and Chile attended the conference, called to explore among other issues 'whether sentient life forms exist on other worlds.'"

Father Funes made headlines last year when he said that the existence of aliens did not contradict belief in God. "As an astronomer I continue to believe that God is the creator of the universe," he told L'Osservatore Romano, calling possible alien life his "extraterrestrial brother" and addressing concerns that alien life might contradict the theology surrounding original sin and redemption. "If other intelligent beings exist, it's not certain that they need redemption."

To read the AP article, click HERE. To read the CNS story about the 2008 L'Osservatore Romano interview with Father Funes, click HERE.

Narrowing of religious exemption could prevent D.C. Catholic Charities from providing services

2009-11-12T09:26:00.002-05:00

By Mary DeTurris Poust

As the Washington, D.C., City Council moves toward a vote on a bill to legalize same sex "marriage," the Archdiocese of Washington is warning that the lack of religious liberty protections could force them to abandon many of their ministries to D.C.'s most vulnerable populations.

According to the Archdiocese of Washington, the City's Council's Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary has narrowed the religious freedom exemption in the bill. If passed in its current form, the bill would require organizations like Catholic Charities to promote and support same sex "marriage" through their services.

The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., said in a press release:

"The committee’s narrowing of the exemption leaves religious organizations and individuals at risk for adhering to the teachings of their faith, and could prevent social service providers such as Catholic Charities from continuing their long-term partnerships with the District government to provide critical social services for thousands of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

"The bill provides no exemption for individuals with sincerely-held religious beliefs, as required under federal law. In fact, one council member opposed an amendment that would have respected an individual’s federally-protected, deeply-held religious beliefs by saying that would encourage a 'discriminatory impulse.'”

At risk are Catholic Charities' many outreach services to the poor and others in need, including adoption services, social services, employee benefits and more.

"As a result, religious organizations and individuals are at risk of legal action for refusing to promote and support same-sex marriages in a host of settings where it would compromise their religious beliefs. This includes employee benefits, adoption services and even the use of a church hall for non-wedding events for same-sex married couples. Religious organizations such as Catholic Charities could be denied licenses or certification by the government, denied the right to offer adoption and foster care services, or no longer be able to partner with the city to provide social services for the needy," the archdiocese stated.

Of course the secular media is trying to cast this as the Church being discriminatory. One article, in the Washington Post, said that religious organizations such as the Catholic Church oppose the same sex "marriage" law, which will be voted on next month, because "they would have to obey city laws prohibiting discrimination against gay men and lesbians."

Saying an organization just wants to discriminate against a group of people sounds a lot better than saying an organization is simply trying to uphold and live its long-held beliefs, which are based on natural law.

Susan Gibbs, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Washington, was quoted in the same Washington Post article, saying: "If the city requires this, we can't do it. The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that's really a problem."

Exactly. Religious liberty and religious freedom mean being able to practice your beliefs without being forced to promote something that stands in direct opposition to those beliefs. More of this is coming as same sex "marriage" debates continue across the country. Good for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., for coming out strong and reminding people what's at stake -- for Catholics and for those we serve.

To read the archdiocese's full press release, click HERE.