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Catholic Replies

December 28, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Editor’s Note: There is a popular song at this time of year that is based on the letters in the word “Christmas.” Here are some thoughts on the lines in this song to meditate upon during this holy season. + + + C is for the Christ Child, born on Christmas Day: The importance of this Child is indicated by the word “Christ,” which is a Greek translation (Christos) of the Hebrew word Messiah, a title meaning “anointed one,” that is, one singled out by God for a special mission. Throughout the Bible, the anointing of a person with oil signified that the person was dedicated to God. A well-known example would be Samuel’s anointing of the youthful David to…Continue Reading

The Authority Of Bishops… Why Are Priests Celibate?

December 23, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Authority Of Bishops… Why Are Priests Celibate?

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 5 One thing Martin Luther did in his revolution against the Church of Jesus Christ was to abolish priestly celibacy. Of course: For a defrocked monk who lived with a runaway nun, it does make sense. But what he ignored — or chose to ignore — was that the celibacy of the clergy takes its origin from the example and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the Church He founded, the Catholic Church, His Virgin Bride and His pure Mystical Body, is fittingly served by a celibate priesthood. The prophet who announced the coming of the Messias, the man whom Jesus called the greatest saint on Earth, His forerunner, St. John the Baptist,…Continue Reading

Vices And Sins Opposed To Faith

December 22, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Vices And Sins Opposed To Faith

By DON FIER The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church crisply summarizes the Church’s fundamental teaching on the theological virtue of faith, as unpacked in the last two installments, in three brief sentences: “Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and all that he has revealed to us and that the Church proposes for our belief because God is Truth itself. By faith the human person freely commits himself to God. Therefore, the believer seeks to know and do the will of God because ‘faith works through charity’ (Gal. 5:6)” (n. 386). To be sure, faith is absolutely necessary for salvation. Our Lord Himself said, “He who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark…Continue Reading

Believe In God’s Love For Us

December 18, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Believe In God’s Love For Us

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Fourth Sunday Of Advent (YR C) Readings: Micah 5:1-4a Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 In redeeming the world, God could have done anything He desired. The problem is that He knows His human creatures all too well, which means He knows how difficult it is for us to believe what He says. As all mothers tell their children: Actions speak louder than words. We can say one thing and do another, but God cannot. He has told us countless times about His love for us and yet, because of the effects of sin, we have trouble believing it could be true. We can look at many different passages from Scripture in which God not only tells us…Continue Reading

The Authority Of Bishops… Can A Catholic Resist The Teaching Of Humanae Vitae Without Sin?

December 16, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Authority Of Bishops… Can A Catholic Resist The Teaching Of Humanae Vitae Without Sin?

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 4 Few times in the history of the Church has a papal teaching been so eagerly awaited as the famous encyclical letter, Humanae Vitae. The liberal modernists were already promoting contraception as being entirely licit, and expected the Pope to confirm their doctrine. One the other hand, those Catholics who were faithful to the perennial teachings of the Church hoped to see a confirmation of that teaching. Naturally, they saw with apprehension the free promotion of contraception by the so-called liberals, without any comment from a great many bishops. But Pope Paul VI blatantly disappointed the “liberals” by confirming the traditional teaching of the Church. The Pope did not go into many details explaining…Continue Reading

Supernatural Faith

December 15, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Supernatural Faith

By DON FIER A brief and enigmatic scriptural definition of the theological virtue we began to consider last week, faith, is set forth in the Letter to the Hebrews: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Its fundamental importance with regard to man’s attainment of salvation is underscored just a few verses later: “Without faith it is impossible to please [God]. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb. 11:6). Reason itself attests to the primacy of faith among the virtues, for how could one hope in or love a God in whom he does not believe? As…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

December 14, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Editor’s Note: Regarding a recent reply to a person struggling with unholy and impure thoughts during Mass or when reading Scripture or praying the rosary, we quoted a priest as recommending four things: guard your senses, pick a good time to pray, focus on your prayers, and open yourself to God’s grace through the sacraments. One of our readers, an 84-year-old prison inmate, also sent along the following helpful thoughts: Christ is pleased with your courage in articulating your problem. It is a painful cross with which God has entrusted you. It does not mean that anything is wrong with your good soul. If upon occasion, there are biological or anatomical responses, the attendant spiritual discomfort you feel is proof…Continue Reading

Gender Ideology — A Radical Attack On The Family

December 12, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Gender Ideology — A Radical Attack On The Family

By FR. SHENAN J. BOQUET (Editor’s Note: This article is reprinted with permission of Human Laife International, www.hli.org. It first appeared at www.hli.org on December 3. Fr. Boquet is the president of HLI.) + + + “Gender theory is an error of the human mind that leads to so much confusion” — Pope Francis. + + + The speed with which gender ideology has grown from the radical fringe to a movement dominating our media, legislation, education, and entertainment is nothing less than staggering. Unless you are a professional LGBT activist, keeping up with the bewildering lexicon of new terms and “gender-neutral” pronouns is an exercise in futility. Even more disorienting is how quickly their use has become mandatory by…Continue Reading

The Lord Is Near

December 11, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Lord Is Near

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Third Sunday Of Advent (YR C) Readings: Zeph. 3:14-18a Phil. 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18 In the first reading today the Lord instructs Zion to shout for joy, Israel is to be joyful, and Jerusalem is to be glad and exalt. The reasons for this rejoicing are threefold: Israel’s judgment has been removed, God has turned their enemies away, and the King of Israel is in their midst. Beyond the earthly rejoicing of the Israelites, we are also told that God would rejoice over them, renew them in His love, and sing joyfully over them as one sings at festivals. God is going to rejoice because His people have abandoned their sins and have chosen to follow Him.…Continue Reading

ADD Represents D.C. Church… Atheists’ Lawsuit Would Force Churches To File Tax Returns

December 10, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on ADD Represents D.C. Church… Atheists’ Lawsuit Would Force Churches To File Tax Returns

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a church in Washington, D.C. — The New Macedonia Baptist Church — have filed a motion in federal court to intervene in an atheist group’s lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by Freedom From Religion Foundation attorneys on behalf of Nonbelief Relief, Inc., seeks to more greatly entangle the government with religion by unconstitutionally forcing churches to file annual tax returns that contain sensitive financial disclosures with the Internal Revenue Service. As ADF attorneys explain, because of the First Amendment, the government would be overstepping its constitutional bounds to require churches to file such forms. “Activist groups with an axe to grind against religion shouldn’t be allowed to entangle the government with religion in…Continue Reading