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September 30, 2020

Note from the Assistant Managing Editor:

Happy feast of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Therese of Lisieux!

We publish several important pieces this week.  The first is "Catholics at the back of the line," in which Archbishop Cordileone discusses the state's "willful discrimination" against the Church in San Francisco.  "Why can people shop at Nordstrom's at 25 percent capacity but only one of you at a time is allowed to pray inside of this great cathedral, your cathedral?  Is this equality?  No, there is no reason for this new rule except a desire to put Catholics — to put you — at the back of the line."

In "Two cheers for Archbishop Cordileone," Phil Lawler praises the archbishop for his outspokenness but also asks, "Why doesn't he take the obvious action?"  "If it is justifiable to defy the law to give a bus ticket to a stranger, how much more justifiable to defy a questionable law to give the people the Eucharistic food that promises eternal life?"

Then we have Cardinal Müller's interview with the National Catholic Register, which I found to be an objective and helpful look at the current US election turmoil.

Finally, did you know that incense relieves anxiety and depression, has anti-inflammatory properties that can alleviate asthma and arthritis, and can reduce airborne bacteria by 68%? Fr. George Rutler suggests incorporating this "earthly hint of worship in heaven" into our worship.

God bless you all this week! - Meaghen Gonzalez



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"Social justice cannot be attained by violence. Violence kills what it intends to create." - Pope Saint John Paul II



New Resources


 
"Do not worry" - Father Jacques Philippe - The Eight Doors of the Kingdom: Meditation on the Beatitudes

Martyrdom is the occasion of the most powerful experience of the Spirit's help.


 
Catholics at the back of the line - Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone - Archdiocese of San Francisco

Archbishop Cordileone delivered the following homily at St. Mary's Cathedral Plaza in San Francisco on September 20, 2020.


 
Two cheers for Archbishop Cordileone - Phil Lawler - Catholic Culture - On the News

As much as I admire Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone for challenging restrictions on the Church in San Francisco...


 
Cardinal Müller Looks at US Politics, the 2020 Election and Catholic Conscience - Edward Pentin - National Catholic Register

The Catholic Church must not only demand freedom of religion, she must also take up the task of demanding and promoting that politics be given a moral basis.


 
Sinners, but not Hypocrites - Father Paul Scalia - The Catholic Thing

"If you don't behave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave."


 
Guilt Complex - Theodore Dalrymple - Taki Magazine

The selfie is perhaps the defining cultural artifact of our time.


 
Consider incense - Father George W. Rutler - From the Pastor

For something different, consider incense.

Editorials of Interest


Why Cardinal Pell Is Vindicated by Cardinal Becciu's Firing - National Catholic Register

As Cardinal Pell arrives in Rome this week after three years in Australia, a look at the counterpoint between the cardinal's return and Cardinal Becciu's fall.


Cardinal Becciu departs — only after ousting would-be reformers - Phil Lawler - Catholic Culture

At last, decisive action to address financial corruption at the Vatican! At last, a ranking prelate has been held accountable!


These carpenters show off medieval techniques for building Notre Dame’s new roof - CWR

While the cardinal's remarks Tuesday recognized that the Democratic party platform seeks to "remove the unborn child from the equation," Tobin did not indicate what issues he thought might justify a vote for Biden.


Cardinal Pell returning to Rome - CNA

Cardinal George Pell is set to return to Rome on Tuesday, September 29.


What I Learned from Amy Coney Barrett - First Things

Over the past week, scores of articles have been published on various aspects of Amy Coney Barrett's character — her fitness as a judicial nominee, her acumen as a scholar, and her unapologetic commitment to the Catholic faith. But long before I had reason to consider any of these qualities, I thought of Judge Barrett simply as an answer to my prayers.


'A different kind of lawyer': Amy Coney Barrett on Christian vocation - Acton Institute

By focusing on Barrett's actual views on the subject, we can clearly see how a Christian vision for vocation serves to lessen one's thirst for political power.


How to vote according to our Catholic faith - CWR

"We are Catholic Christians before we are Americans and certainly before we might be part of any political party. The Church cannot and will not endorse a particular candidate or party."


I voted for Trump in 2016 and I was ashamed. Here's what I'm doing differently in 2020 - Mama Needs Coffee

I don't know about you, but I am sick to death of being moralized and preached to by a corrupt, spineless, and utterly compromised media who literally say the opposite of what is true.


The Constitution: An excerpt from America on Trial - CWR

A close reading of the Constitution leads to the conclusion that, divorced from natural law and Christian principles, the Constitution would be incomprehensible — devoid of compelling moral vision or unifying principles.


Bishop Paprocki: We must weigh cost of 'extraordinary' shutdowns - CWR

The months-long lockdowns in response to the coronavirus are an extraordinary means of saving life, and are therefore not morally obligatory and should not be coerced by the state.


Mammon's Grip on the Catholic Church - Crisis

As the story goes, Mother Teresa was offered a million dollars by a Catholic with deep pockets, and Mother took the check, gave him a hug, and said she'd be able to open five new orphanages.


Tens of Thousands of Unexpected Deaths: CDC silent - AKA Catholic

Bottom line: We are being played by persons with evil intent and it's literally killing us.


Andrea Long Chu's Females subverts subversiveness - CWR

In the cosmological view presented by theologians including Augustine and Aquinas, desire is a gift from God, ordered toward a particular end, and constitutive of our true identity and fulfillment.


Conjugal Rights: Defined and Applied - HPR

Dr. Gregory Popcak recently suggested that a woman ignore the advice of her priest, who claimed that she should have sex with her husband despite his adultery.


Fathers, Don't Tap Out - The Catholic Gentleman

The kids were out of control and so were the bills, my relationship with my wife felt strained, and I honestly didn't think I could handle the stress at work anymore.


Canceling Catholic higher education - CWR

For those who believe that the basis of education rests in a civil but robust disputation of questions, it is difficult to be optimistic about the academy's future.


Five Myths About Columbus - Knights of Columbus

Outrageous claims about Columbus need to be tempered by a sober look at the historical record.


St. John Henry Cardinal Newman and
St. Justin Martyr, pray for us

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