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CERC WEEKLY UPDATE - November 28, 2012 NEW RESOURCES EDITORIALS OF INTEREST EDUCATION MATTERS Note from the Managing Editor:
Implied in Bishop Sheen's statement is an appeal to Catholics to work to correct those wrong understandings as part of evangelizing the larger culture. And that's why Christopher Kaczor's new book, The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction about Catholicism is so important. Kaczor's is a work of happy destruction as he takes apart the seven most widely held and toxic myths people in the larger culture hold about the Catholic Church today. Peter Kreeft has this to say:
Kaczor writes with stunning clarity and persuasiveness, articulating the case and evidence against the Church and then providing the reasons why the conclusions don't follow from the evidence. This is a remarkable, even indispensable book. So if you can't explain why the Catholic Church is against contraception or same-sex marriage to your neighbour — or even to yourself — you may want to treat yourself to The Seven Big Myths. Find chapter one, "The First Big Myth - The Church Opposes Science: The Myth of Catholic Irrationality" below. (See what other myths Kaczor deals with by watching the video at the end of this article). - J. Fraser Field This CERC Weekly Update is also available on our web site here.
Quote of the Week: "Not everything that can be counted counts; not everything that counts can be counted." - a sign on the wall of Albert Einstein's office
• Faith is reasonable, leads to joyful life - CNA
The knowledge possessed by a soul faithful to its obligations, quietly submissive to the intimate orders of grace, gentle and humble towards all, is worth more than the most profound penetration of mysteries.
The Church Opposes Science: The Myth of Catholic Irrationality - Christopher Kaczor - chapter 1 from The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction about Catholicism "Christopher Kaczor is one of our finest young Catholic philosophers. In The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church, he shows that he is also one of our finest defenders of the Catholic faith. Essential reading for the new evangelization." - Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles
After asking me how our recovery from Hurricane Sandy is going, most folks these days then inquire about how I think “the Church did” on election day.
The British character: from self-restraint to self-indulgence.
Contrition, compassion, mercy — these, Tolstoy seems to suggest, are the graces without which death becomes incomprehensible and unbearable.
Benedict XVI and the Pathologies of Religion - Samuel Gregg - Crisis Magazine It passed almost unnoticed, but last month Benedict XVI significantly upped the ante in an argument he's made one of his pontificate's centerpieces.
The feminine soul, created in love and for love, can be a lovely thing to encounter.
I'm often asked, "What is the world's fastest growing religion?"
The Nuncio on Religious Freedom - Father George Rutler - From the Pastor When a Nuncio speaks publicly, it is safe to say that we are hearing the sentiments of the Holy Father himself.
Faith is reasonable, leads to joyful life - CNA Benedict XVI is continuing his special efforts to explain faith during the Year of Faith.
Jesus was born years earlier than thought, claims Pope - The Telegraph The entire Christian calendar is based on a miscalculation, the Pope has declared, as he claims in a new book that Jesus was born several years earlier than commonly believed.
Catholics United v. The Knights of Columbus - The IRD The Roman Catholic fraternal order has come under attack from the liberal group Catholics United.  Understanding the Crisis in the Church of England - Patheos This afternoon the Church of England General Synod voted against women's ordination. For those of you who are befuddled by this–join the club!
A vaticanista reads the pope's book - NCR "For good or ill, it's simply part of Benedict's character to think that things ‘unnoticed by the vast world public' are more important than the stuff that dominates headlines in the here-and-now."
Clear path for healthcare lawsuits - CNS The Supreme Court cleared the way yesterday for a federal appeals court to take up a Christian college's challenge to the Affordable Care Act, reopening lawsuits filed by religious and other groups who oppose parts of the law.
Elevating 6 non-European cardinals, Pope reflects on Church's universal mission - Catholic Culture As he elevated 6 new members to the College of Cardinals on November 24, Pope Benedict XVI remarked that the Catholic Church pursues a universal mission, serving all mankind.
Creative Catholic Christmas Gifts 2012: Moving Beyond The Catholic Bookstore - Focius Christmas is coming, which means Advent is coming, which means Black Friday is coming, which means you are thinking about buying Christmas presents.
Two Hundred Years Behind What? - First Things Some progressive Catholics seem to want the Church to catch up with a world that's going backwards.
Giving thanks for American Exceptionalism - Washington Times America is unique in many respects, not least in the fundamental and continuing importance it gives to religious belief.
Giving thanks for C.S. Lewis - Patheos C.S. Lewis died forty-nine years ago yesterday. He left us much to thankful for.
Facebook Est — At Long Last, A Cardinal of the Social Media Church - Whispers in the loggia Manila Archbishop Chito Tagle, soon to be a cardinal, has already become global Catholicism's most "Liked" major figure in social media.
Lay Catholic says 'lousy music' puts the young off church - Scotland Herald A new Academy of Sacred Music will be launched in Scotland tonight to combat what its founder calls the "lousy music sung in Catholic churches".
The cardinal of culture - New Statesman Kamila Kocialkowska profiles the Vatican cardinal who is "so popular there is currently a two-year waiting list" to hear him speak.
Choir of dissent off-key on the sanctity of confession - smh.com.au Laws requiring Catholic priests to break the confessional seal sound good. But they would achieve nothing.
The Erosion of Ethics in Organ Transplantation - Zenit Organ donation can certainly be a supreme act of generosity.
In the World but Not of the World - Patheos I'll tell you what I had in my fundamentalist Evangelical upbringing which the American Catholic church could use a hefty dose:
Light on the Book of Kells - FT.com "For many in Ireland, it symbolizes the power of learning, the impact of Christianity on the life of the country, and the spirit of artistic imagination."
Evangelicals Becoming More Devout, Catholics Less So - Live Science Evangelicals in the United States have become more devout, while American Catholics have drifted away from the faith, a new study has claimed.
Marissa Cope Adoption Story - Youtube My parents were at the circus when I was born. I'm sure they were having a great time celebrating my brother's sixth birthday, but I was at the hospital, being born.
Resisting aggressive secularism promoted in the world - Catholic New World If you want to see what happens to freedom and human rights when God is removed, consult both ancient aristocratic societies and modern totalitarian regimes.
New book tries to dispel the "Black Legend" of the papacy's most scandalous dynasty - Washington Post A new book tries to give a fairer – and much less lurid – picture of the Borgias, family of popes and politicians.
Catholic school crisis calls for creative responses - NCR The current Catholic school crisis calls for creative responses, including learning from the burgeoning charter school movement.
The Upside-Down World of Catholic Higher Education - Catholic World Report Recent controversies at the University of San Diego underscore the prevalence and influence of dissent on Catholic campuses.
A father’s fright of Twilight - Resurgence Twilight is for teenage girls what porn is to teenage boys: sick, twisted, evil, dangerous, deceptive, and popular.
Early Childhood experts say genes hold clues to child abuse - Familiy Edge Canadian experts say genetic research offers clues for reducing the impact of abuse on children.
Three reasons why you're (probably) ready to start a post-college Bible study - Focus This is the second post in a multi-part series: Creating a sustainable new ministry at your Parish.
University trustees back president who withdrew fellowship for dissident theologian - Catholic Culture The trustees of the University of San Diego have given their full support to the school’s president, Mary Lyons, after faculty members gave her a vote of no-confidence.
Alexis de Tocqueville and the Character of American Education - Acton blog The great struggle for societal improvement between generations need not focus on overblown correlations and statistics, but rather on a renewed love for and education in the Good, the True, and the Beautiful, arguably the true point of education in the first place.
It's Not Just the Athletes Who Can't Read and Write - Minding the Campus Tar Heel alums may be embarrassed over the scandal involving the amazingly low academic standards for "student-athletes" at the University of North Carolina, but for the rest of America, it is the gift that keeps on giving for its insights into the true priorities of our higher education leaders.
Majority of Catholic colleges host pro-homosexual groups: survey - LifeSiteNews Georgetown, Notre Dame and Creighton Universities are counted among the whopping 52% of Catholic colleges that sponsor pro-homosexual student clubs that violate Catholic Church teaching, up from 45% in 2009, according to a Catholic student group. Subscribe/Unsubscribe |
