eChurch Blog

I know I’m way behind the curve on this one, but although I had read that the Catholic Church was intending on giving out one million credit-card-sized ‘faith cards’, I hadn’t seen an image of the card. But I have now, and think it rather sweet:

On the back of the card is an adapted quote from Blessed John Henry Newman:

God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. I shall do good and be a preacher of truth in my own place.

I like it!

A few links I found interesting for one reason or another:

Catholic Boy Richard – “Getting It Straight” on Same-Gender Attraction…And Rick Santorum

A Grain of Sand – Fairness

Liberal Conspiracy – Why was my friend jailed over botched attempt to end his own life?

Dreaming Beneath the Spires – Successful Christians; Hidden Christians

Get Religion – Last temptation of Castro

Psych Central – Are You In Recovery But Not Really Recovering?

The DfE [Department for Education] data, summarized in appendix 4 of the 2011 Digest, revealed that 19% of pupils at Catholic primary schools lived in the 10% most deprived areas, compared to 14% of pupils at primary schools across England. At secondary level, 17% of pupils at Catholic schools lived in the 10% most deprived areas against 12% of pupils nationally.

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A quick heads-up to let you know of an upcoming Catholic bloggers meeting; details of which can be found here.

Just to reiterate what’s said on that link; this is not just for traditional bloggers, but all Catholic folk that engage online: Twitter, Facebook, Blog Commenter’s, and so forth.

The last meet was fab and I’m quite pleased this one’s being held again in Blackfen, as the bar and food were superb! As well as everything else of course

Anyway, in faith, I’m saying I’ll be there and hope to see you too.

Do let me know if you’re thinking of coming, so I can let the organisers know.

It really is a top day.

I seem to be encountering a growing misconception that the Christian “obsession” with the evils of abortion is a modern construct. Here’s an example of such thinking:

….the Catholic church has decided to make abortion its cause célèbre in its battle for social and moral relevance.

I’d like to point anybody labouring under this misconception to a blog entitled: Early Christians on Abortion, which features just one post majoring on Jewish and early Christian thought relating to abortion.

The blog post leads with:

I’ll also present ancient Jewish and Christian witnesses testifying to the anti-abortion, anti-contraception and anti-infanticide position of the Church through the ages. Prepare for a very long post.

And this post is very long as there is a vast amount of information pertaining to an anti-abortion stance emanating from the ancient Christian and Jewish thinkers.

I leave it to you to hop over and read in order to educate yourselves.

Caroline – Who represents Catholic Voices – blogged yesterday on the controversy generated by a Daily Mail article, which revealed that a Catholic Priest had postponed Holy Communion preparation classes for a seven-year-old boy with Downs Syndrome.

I won’t re-hash all of the intricacies surrounding this case, as you can hop over to the Daily Mail and Caroline’s piece to furnish yourself with more information.

Below I’ve linked to a media file which contains an interview given by Caroline to Radio Kerry earlier today. I thought Caroline gave a super interview, on what is a very controversial, complex and sensitive subject. Well worth a listen.

Radio Kerry Interview with Caroline Farrow

A few links I found interesting for one reason or another:

Vatican – Pope Bendict’s address to the US bishops

First Things – Is the European Union a Catholic Plot

Roger E Olson – Neo-fundamentalism

NPR – Why Do So Many Have Trouble Believing In Evolution?

Christian Post – The ‘Prosperity Gospel’ Is Peddled by Magicians

This story is absolutely disgraceful and thoroughly disturbing. Thankfully sense prevailed in the appeals court.

But worryingly, as PsychCentral commented:

Here’s the real kicker though… This is just the one story we know about because the records — which are usually sealed — were unsealed on appeal. In most state cases where this sort of thing is decided, you’ll never hear about it.

It goes on every day in the U.S., hundreds of times a year.

Very scary!

Being a Catholic means having our pre-conceptions blown away. It’s all much bigger than you thought. Being a Catholics is learning to see the beauty of holiness. Sanctity and sublimity are not always the same thing.

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