Coming soon...Fortnight For Freedom
Our religious freedom is at stake...
On April 12, the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a document, "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty,” outlining the bishops’ concerns over threats to religious freedom, both at home and abroad. The bishops called for a “Fortnight for Freedom,” a 14-day period of prayer, education and action in support of religious freedom, from June 21-July 4.
The fourteen days from June 21—the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day, are dedicated to this “fortnight for freedom”—a great hymn of prayer for our country. Our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. Culminating on Independence Day, this special period of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action would emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty. Dioceses and parishes around the country could choose a date in that period for special events that would constitute a great national campaign of teaching and witness for religious liberty.
On this page you can find suggestions and resources to mark the Fortnight for Freedom in your parish. Updates and new resources will be posted as we have them. Any questions or concerns can be directed to the Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living at:
Yvonne Saldaña yvonne-saldana@austindiocese.org (512) 949-2486
Marie Seale marie-seale@austindiocese.org (512) 949-2487
On this page you can find suggestions and resources to mark the Fortnight for Freedom in your parish. Updates and new resources will be posted as we have them. Any questions or concerns can be directed to the Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living at:
Yvonne Saldaña yvonne-saldana@austindiocese.org (512) 949-2486
Marie Seale marie-seale@austindiocese.org (512) 949-2487
The latest on the HHS Mandate from the USCCB: www.usccb.org/conscience
Up to date action alerts: http://nchla.org/action.asp
Up to date action alerts: http://nchla.org/action.asp
Visit this link for more information
Recap and Update
Greetings everyone! I am finally back for blogging. It has been quite a busy semester and needless to say a very fruitful one too. This past semester I grew a lot both spiritually and physically. From recovering and going to physical therapy for my knee injury to the intense prayer and fasting of the lenten season, the spring semester was a time filled with grace. I am currently assigned in Round Rock, Texas and will be taking a spanish class the first half of the semester. Stay tuned for upcoming posts!
Satisfaction consists in the cutting off of the causes of the sin. Thus, fasting is the proper antidote to lust; prayer to pride, to envy, anger and sloth; alms to covetousness.
Satisfaction consists in the cutting off of the causes of the sin. Thus, fasting is the proper antidote to lust; prayer to pride, to envy, anger and sloth; alms to covetousness.
– St. Richard of Chichester
March for Life and a Pro-Life Letter
Today the nation witnessed another March for Life in Washington, D.C.. Unfortunately because of my torn ACL I was unable to attend the march. Here is a beautiful article about the event.
WASHINGTON — The 2012 March for Life today drew tens of thousands of pro-life Americans to the National Mall, armed with umbrellas and a spirited commitment to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal throughout the United States. An estimated 54 million unborn children have been killed since the ruling by the high court, and in recent years, the nation has become increasingly more pro-life, particularly among the young. In 2009, a Gallup poll marked the first year that a slight majority of the adult population opposed legal abortion in most cases, and judging by the sea of high school and college students at this year’s march, the young account for much of this steady shift. Holding signs and wearing t-shirts with favorite sayings, youthful marchers asked bystanders to pray for a “culture of life” and reminded others “Adoption is an option.” Students from Christendom College, a Catholic college in Front Royal, Va., which cancels classes on the day of the march every year so the entire school can attend, led the march up Constitution Avenue toward the Supreme Court building. Read moreHere is a beautiful video of a Pro-Life letter...
Love Jesus. Love Religion. Love Foundation.
"Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." -Matthew 5:17
Spreading across the web with over 9 million views, the following video explains why one should love Jesus and hate religion. With a Catholic viewpoint, one can find many things that are wrong of what he says. Here is the video...
Aggie Catholics has a great response...
So, is there anything wrong with his message? Absolutely. In fact, there are a lot of things wrong with it. But, let us start with what is good about it.
Well, he starts with a false premise - that religion is the root of the problem and therefore Jesus hates it. This is false.
We must define our terms before we go any further.
Religion can be defined in many ways, here are a few:
Furthermore, Jesus wouldn't want us to be taught these things and then not follow them or observe the practice of them.
So, the problem isn't with religion, but hypocricy - saying you are a Christian and living far from him. This is a different argument.
Jesus certainly didn't come to "abolish religion". You might say he came to complete it, purify it, raise it up, etc. He certainly didn't want to do away with it. You might remember Jesus saying "I have not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them." -Matt 5:17
What this young man has done in the video is set up a false dichotomy, which is rooted in modern Protestant evangelical thought (esp. in the emergent church movement). This thought tries to "re-package" the Gospel for modern man, which isn't a bad idea, but they have the wrong diagnosis - religion isn't the sickness that needs to be cured. The video's implication is that a person who has religion is someone who isn't a "real" Christian. Hence, the quote:
Religion gives form and structure to faith and there is nothing wrong with it as such. It is the whole "spiritual but not religious" argument, which is another false dichotomy.
It all has to do has to do with the perception that there is a rigidity and a formalism that doesn't translate into true transformation of hearts in religious practice. Certainly someone can go to church (any church) and not have a relationship with Christ. But, religion doesn't have to be the cause of such problems. Thus, this video (and other's who believe this line of reasoning) believe religion is an institutional and man-made construct that keeps us from a true relationship with God. False.
Here are other video responses that are done very well!
Untitled from John Hollowell on Vimeo.
Spreading across the web with over 9 million views, the following video explains why one should love Jesus and hate religion. With a Catholic viewpoint, one can find many things that are wrong of what he says. Here is the video...
Aggie Catholics has a great response...
So, is there anything wrong with his message? Absolutely. In fact, there are a lot of things wrong with it. But, let us start with what is good about it.
- Hypocrisy is wrong and brings a false witness to Christ. True.
- The veneer of faith can be hidden by religious practices, while never touching the heart. True.
- Outward actions does not make one a believer. True.
- The focus of Christianity should be on the relationship with Christ, not on just following a bunch of rules. True.
- By grace alone are we saved. True.
- Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day, because the didn't practice what they preached. True.
Well, he starts with a false premise - that religion is the root of the problem and therefore Jesus hates it. This is false.
We must define our terms before we go any further.
Religion can be defined in many ways, here are a few:
- a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
- a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects
- the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
Furthermore, Jesus wouldn't want us to be taught these things and then not follow them or observe the practice of them.
So, the problem isn't with religion, but hypocricy - saying you are a Christian and living far from him. This is a different argument.
Jesus certainly didn't come to "abolish religion". You might say he came to complete it, purify it, raise it up, etc. He certainly didn't want to do away with it. You might remember Jesus saying "I have not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them." -Matt 5:17
What this young man has done in the video is set up a false dichotomy, which is rooted in modern Protestant evangelical thought (esp. in the emergent church movement). This thought tries to "re-package" the Gospel for modern man, which isn't a bad idea, but they have the wrong diagnosis - religion isn't the sickness that needs to be cured. The video's implication is that a person who has religion is someone who isn't a "real" Christian. Hence, the quote:
Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice
Tend to ridicule God's people, they did it to John The Baptist
They can't fix their problems, and so they just mask it
Not realizing religions like spraying perfume on a casket
See the problem with religion, is it never gets to the coreHe also makes the argument that "religion has started wars" and "Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor". This is another false dichotomy. People have certainly misused God's name to fight wars, but that doesn't mean the faith and practice of religion caused them. Also, Christians provide more for the poor than anybody else, so why make this argument? We can do both - build beautiful churches to worship God (and proclaim His glory) and feed the poor.
It's just behavior modification, like a long list of chores
Like lets dress up the outside make look nice and neat
But it's funny that's what they use to do to mummies
While the corps rots underneath
Religion gives form and structure to faith and there is nothing wrong with it as such. It is the whole "spiritual but not religious" argument, which is another false dichotomy.
It all has to do has to do with the perception that there is a rigidity and a formalism that doesn't translate into true transformation of hearts in religious practice. Certainly someone can go to church (any church) and not have a relationship with Christ. But, religion doesn't have to be the cause of such problems. Thus, this video (and other's who believe this line of reasoning) believe religion is an institutional and man-made construct that keeps us from a true relationship with God. False.
Here are other video responses that are done very well!
Untitled from John Hollowell on Vimeo.
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