Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

New on the Blogroll: Catholic Bloggers Network

There's a new item on the blogroll:


I added "Advent: Another Year of the Long Watch" to this year's Catholic Bloggers Advent Linkup.

Their 2014 Catholic Bloggers Blitz is another good idea: but I don't remember participating.

There's a reason for that: maybe not a good one, but a reason nonetheless.

Participation in the Catholic Bloggers Blitz is easy:
  • Put that button on your post or sidebar, with a link to the Catholic Bloggers Blitz
    (they've got copy-and-paste code)
  • Say what sort of blog you've got
  • Visit at least two previously-linked posts
  • Share the Catholic Bloggers Blitz link on whatever social media suits your fancy
Piece of cake, right?

Right: except Catholic Bloggers Network also, reasonably, want folks to share what sort of blog they write. Here's their second rule:

"Include the category initials at the beginning of the title or name you submit to the link-up:

RR= Readings and Reflections
CA= Catechism and Apologetics
HS= Homeschooling
LC= Liturgical Calendar
FJ= Family Journal
(Example: 'LC St Sebastian craft')"

A Catholic Citizen in America is 'none of the above.'

I quote from the Bible, and reflect on what it means; say why Catholic beliefs make sense; my wife and I homeschooled our kids; I occasionally mention what's happening in our family. I even bring up the liturgical calendar now and then.

In a way, every post is a 'reflection' on what being Catholic is like: but my posts aren't "reflections" in the sense of being a sort of sermon or homily.

I take 'truth in advertising' seriously: and don't want folks to come here expecting nice, normal reflections — and seeing the sort of stuff I do.

I'll keep on doing what I'm doing, and take part in Catholic Bloggers Network when I can. Maybe next year they'll have a 'none of the above' category.
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Friday, December 7, 2012

Christmas in Cuba; The Pope's @Pontifex Twitter Account; News from Mars

Catholics in Cuba have a new challenge: remembering what they believe when their government isn't quite so hostile to their faith. Catholics in the United States are still being kept on our toes:to an extent. I'm not sure whether I'm happy about that, or not.

Another blogger made a good case for celebrating, even though the November election was a trifle disappointing:

Cuba, Twitter, and Mars

Cuba's new(ish) Christmas policy, the Pope's new Twitter account, and Martian chemistry are what I picked from this week's news:
  1. Christmas in Cuba
  2. @Pontifex: Benedict XVI's Twitter Account
  3. Mars Soil Analysis: Organic, Yes;
    Life, Too Soon to Say

Science? In a 'Religious' Blog?!

I don't have to be interested in God's creation to be a Catholic: but I don't see a point in cultivating ignorance of the wonders that surround us.
"...the things of the world
and the things of faith
derive from the same God..."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 159)

"...The beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator and ought to inspire the respect and submission of man's intellect and will."
(Catechism, 341)
The quaint idea that science is against religion, and that religious people have to hate science, popped up in the 19th century. ("Beauty, Science, and a Crazy Idea" (March 14, 2012)) I think the 'science is icky' attitude is as silly as whalebone corsets, too, and that's another topic. Topics.

I'm a practicing Catholic, which may not mean what you've been told it does. Yet more topics:

1. Christmas in Cuba

"After decades-long ban, Christmas holds new meaning for Cuba"
CNA/EWTN News (December 4, 2012)

"Local Catholics say that the reinstatement of Christmas as a national holiday in 1997 after decades of being outlawed has brought enormous good 'to the life of the nation,' but that its deeper meaning still needs to be understood.

" 'Once again Christmas proves to be a source of happiness: however, we cannot forget that this beneficial aspect of Christmas has its roots and its nature in the religious event of the birth of Jesus Christ,' wrote editors from the Diocese of Pinar del Rio's magazine titled Vitral.

" 'The more Christmas in Cuba is imbued with its roots and its Christian religious nature, as it was in the past, the more good it will bring to the Cuban people.'..."
I'm glad to see that Cubans have Christmas as a public holiday: to be celebrated, or not.

Depending on who you listen to, anywhere from 60% to 85% of Cubans are Catholic, with maybe 5% (or more) going to Mass regularly. The rest are Protestants, Jews, followers of Santeria, and the ubiquitous "other." (Religion in Cuba, Wikipedia; "Cuba," The World Factbook, CIA (page last updated November 29, 2012))

I can understand a country not having Christmas as a national holiday, if only a handful out of every hundred folks are Christian. Nations like Cuba, or the United States, though? Unless a state-sponsored church demands that everybody pretend to celebrate, I don't see a problem.

Whether or not it's suitable to use public funds for 'religious' displays like Sauk Centre's "HAPPY HOLIDAY" sign - - - is another topic.


Driven Underground: For a Time

"...Since its beginning as a nation, Catholic liturgical celebrations were the primary source of unity for the people and were highly important for the new nation, the editors said.

"But although 'Christmas united Cubans,' the Communist government banned public celebrations of the holiday in 1969.

" 'Christmas was still celebrated in Catholic and Protestant churches and in Christian homes, but public celebrations disappeared.'..."
(CNA/EWTN News)
Living in a society that encourages public displays of religious feeling has its advantages. On the other hand, being forced into choosing between popularity and principle also presents opportunities.

Today's America isn't the country I grew up in, where going to the 'right' church was as important to upwardly mobile company men as was choosing the 'right' golf club.

As I've said before, I don't miss the 'good old days.'

These days, there's another set of folks with power and influence in America. I get the impression that 'organized religion' and 'vast right-wing conspiracies' have replaced the red menace and pinkos as bogeymen.

The new 'tolerance' is as open minded as the old HUAC and Hollywood blacklist. My opinion.

Happily, quite a few Americans are as recalcitrant about stifling our faith, as our Cuban neighbors.
In the long run, I think the current establishment in America will be as successful in eradicating serious religious beliefs as Cuba's leaders have been.

2. @Pontifex: Benedict XVI's Twitter Account

"Pope Benedict will make Twitter debut with @pontifex"
Estefania Aguirre, CNA/EWTN News (December 3, 2012)

"The Pope's Twitter account will be @Pontifex and will start on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Vatican representatives announced.

"The news of the 85-year-old tweeting came out weeks ago, but officials finally revealed the account's name and that it will be launched on the Marian feast day, which they said was a coincidence.

"But instead of informing people of his favorite band and other trivia, the Pope's goal will be to impart spiritual messages to people around the globe...."
As of yesterday (Thursday) morning, around 10:00 a.m. here in Minnesota, Benedict XVI / @Pontifex had 522,922 followers: including me. Quite a few folks on Twitter have been commenting on Benedict XVI's @Pontifex Twitter account.

What's said about @Pontifex by folks on Twitter is serious, silly, clueless, rude, or obscene: depending partly, I suspect, on how much the person knows about the Catholic Church and Catholicism. Yes, I know about the pedophile priests; and I agree with Fulton Sheen:
"There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church - which is, of course, quite a different thing."
(Bishop Fulton Sheen, Foreword to Radio Replies Vol. 1, (1938) page ix, via Wikiquote)
Moving on.

Pontifex: Pope and Bridge Builder

"...Greg Burke, who was recently appointed media advisor to the Holy See's Secretary of State, explained that the name was chosen because pontifex means both 'Pope and bridge builder,' and the Holy Father desires to reach out to everyone with the initiative.

"On Dec. 12, Pope Benedict will personally tweet, but after that assistants will tweet content he approves.

" 'They will be his words and no one will be putting words in his mouth,' Burke explained. 'My personal input will be to see that it happens as often as possible.'..."
Estefania Aguirre)
I'll be interested in seeing how Benedict XVI deals with Twitter's 140 character limit. Even his comparatively brief general audiences run much longer, like this example:
On the other hand, there's precedent for message compression:
"My dear children, love one another."
("St John, Apostle and Evagelist," EWTN) [quoted (June 24, 2012)]

Money, Security, and the Vatican

"...Security will be dealt with if any problems occur, Burke said, adding that it's an issue that the Vatican website deals with on a daily basis.

" 'There are many imitators out there - some of them are good willed, some of them are not,' he said.

"The initiative will not cost the Vatican much money since they already have the manpower...."
(Estefania Aguirre)
The Vatican's website, www.vatican.va, is part of what's probably among the world's most high-profile Internet domains. It's in eight languages, and provides access to a growing fraction of documents the Church has accumulated. Considering what a tempting target it is, I'm a bit surprised that there aren't more successful attacks:
I'm glad to hear that maintaining the Pope's Twitter account won't cost much money, but not because I think spending on anything I don't do is a sinful waste: or worse. The Catholic Church is far from bankrupt, although some American parishes have been closed:
That doesn't mean that the Pope is the evil mastermind of a global conspiracy to plunder the pockets of the poor. I think part of the Church's apparent over-abundance of wealth comes from our being under the same management for two millennia. Stuff accumulates.

The Not-So-Vast Vatican Offices

Vatican City is only about a half-mile across, with a population of about 836. (Holy See (Vatican City), The World Factbook, CIA (page last updated October 24, 2012))

One of the departments, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has a staff of 45 handling information coming from about 1,100,000,000 Catholics. (January 8, 2012) Top-heavy the Catholic Church's organization isn't.

Present, Yes: Launched, No

"...The Pope's account is expected to be launched at around noon, after the weekly general audience, and the inaugural day will feature answers to a handful of chosen questions related to faith, in honor of the ongoing Year of Faith.

" 'I think it's a great means, despite the fact that the Vatican has been cautious about doing it with the Pope, because it's one thing for a movie star or soccer player to do it and it's another thing for the Pope to put his name on tweets,' Burke said.

" 'But I still think it's a great way to reach a whole lot of people, and the more we can do it, the better.'

"The account will include tweets in seven languages besides English. Those languages are Spanish, Arabic, German, Polish, French, Portuguese and Italian...."
(Estefania Aguirre)
@Pontifex is already 'launched,' in the sense that it's on Twitter with distinctive graphics and more than a half-million followers. But it's not 'launched' in the sense that there aren't any Tweets yet.

I'm looking forward to December 12 and the first of Benedict XVI's messages.

3. Mars Soil Analysis: Organic, Yes; Life, Too Soon to Say

"NASA Mars Rover Fully Analyzes First Soil Samples"
(December 3, 2012)

"NASA's Mars Curiosity rover has used its full array of instruments to analyze Martian soil for the first time, and found a complex chemistry within the Martian soil. Water and sulfur and chlorine-containing substances, among other ingredients, showed up in samples Curiosity's arm delivered to an analytical laboratory inside the rover.

"Detection of the substances during this early phase of the mission demonstrates the laboratory's capability to analyze diverse soil and rock samples over the next two years. Scientists also have been verifying the capabilities of the rover's instruments.

"Curiosity is the first Mars rover able to scoop soil into analytical instruments. The specific soil sample came from a drift of windblown dust and sand called 'Rocknest.' The site lies in a relatively flat part of Gale Crater still miles away from the rover's main destination on the slope of a mountain called Mount Sharp. The rover's laboratory includes the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite and the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument. SAM used three methods to analyze gases given off from the dusty sand when it was heated in a tiny oven. One class of substances SAM checks for is organic compounds -- carbon-containing chemicals that can be ingredients for life...."
NASA says it's fairly certain that the chlorine was on Mars when Curiosity landed: but that the carbon may have been carried along from Earth. 'None of the above' is a strong indication that there's life on Mars.

Organic Stuff and Life

Organic compounds are always in living organisms, at least the ones we're familiar with. But living organisms aren't the only place where compounds containing carbon (or carbon and hydrogen) show up.

I'm particularly impressed that some regions of interstellar space contain complex organic compounds:
Components for life seem to be spread throughout the universe. Maybe we're living on the only planet where there's life: but then again, maybe we're not.

I'm fascinated by what we're learning: and what might, possibly, be still unknown.

Pictures of Dirt: Martian Dirt


(from NASA/JPL-Caltech, used w/o permission)
"This collage shows the variety of soils found at landing sites on Mars. The elemental composition of the typical, reddish soils were investigated by NASA's Viking, Pathfinder and Mars Exploration Rover missions, and now with the Curiosity rover, using X-ray spectroscopy....

"...The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's landing region in Gusev Crater is seen in both pictures at top; Viking's landing site is shown at lower left; and a close-up of Curiosity's Gale Crater soil target called 'Portage' is at lower right.

"In Gusev Crater, several white subsurface deposits were excavated with Spirit's wheels and found to be either silica-rich or hydrated ferric sulfates."
(NASA Multimedia)
Angry Red Planet (1959); © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. Used w/o permissionWhat was a little surprising was how much Mars looks like Earth, although our home doesn't have quite so much reddish-tan sand and gravel. Sure, the atmosphere is unbreathably thin, and mostly carbon dioxide; and the gravity is about a third of what we're used to: but the real Mars isn't the entertainingly odd place we used to see in the movies.

It's a world where snow can be crystals of water, or carbon dioxide; where water once flowed; and where we're finding many of the chemicals needed for life. The real Mars is a great deal more interesting than Hollywood's "...Angry Red Planet." My opinion.

Vaguely-related posts:
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Recovering From Sandy: Breezy Point, Queens; Santiago, Cuba

Quite a few folks are helping others sort out the mess left by Hurricane Sandy, including organizations like these:
If you don't see a tight focus on the recent Atlantic storm on those websites: don't be surprised. Sandy is a major storm: but it's not the only reason that folks need help.

On the other hand, cleaning up after Sandy is a big job: and it's very much in the news.

Floods, Fires, and Sturdy Masonry


(Associated Press, via New York Daily News, used w/o permission)
"The storm sparked a fire that took down dozens of homes in Breezy Point, Queens."

"Hurricane Sandy: Fire in Breezy Point burns down more than 80 homes, residents devastated"
Lisa L. Colangelo , Mark Morales, Tracy Connor, New York Daily News (October 30, 2012)

"Superstorm sparked a blaze that engulfed dozens of homes in Queens community, including that of Rep. Bob Turner, who praised first responders and vowed Breezy Point would be rebuilt.

"The tight-knit Queens enclave of Breezy Point was a scene of horrific devastation Tuesday -- row after row of homes engulfed by by an inferno that raged on streets flooded by superstorm Sandy....

"...Those who lost homes include Rep. Bob Turner, who praised first responders, vowed that the devastated community would be rebuilt, and said he was grateful he and his family were safe...."
I can't tell whether that statue started out inside a building, whether it was outside before the fire. Either way, I'm glad to see that folks in Breezy Point have at least one reminder of stability.

Here's where I could indulge in some conventional philosophizing. Depending on which audience I was playing to, I could write about:
  1. The 'miraculous' survival of a masonry structure
  2. How religion is stupid
    • Because the statue didn't protect Breezy Point
  3. The hate-filled Catholic Church
    • Wasting money on statues
    • Not supporting
      • Gay marriage
      • Eugenics
      • Whatever
That's not going to happen. I take my faith, and my Lord, seriously. I also realize that I've got my particular judgment coming, and don't need any more trouble than I've already got. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1013, 1021)

Here's what I think about those 'devout,' 'intelligent,' and otherwise, ideas:

1. Miracles and masonry

Maybe that statue's survival really was a miracle: but I've noticed that objects and structures made out of brick, mortar, and stone, tend to be more fire-resistant than wooden ones.

I acknowledge that miracles happen. In a sense, the continued existence of the universe is a miracle: and that's another topic.

2. Statues and Good Luck Charms

Some Catholics are superstitious. For that matter, some Catholics are mass murderers. (December 26, 2008) That doesn't, I think, mean that the Catholic Church should change the rules because some of us don't follow them - yet more topics. By the way, as a Catholic, I'm not allowed to commit murder.1 (Catechism, 2258-2262, 2268-2269)

I'm also not allowed to be superstitious. It's a very bad idea. (Catechism, 2110, 2111)

3. Hate and the Catholic Church

Maybe you know a Catholic who hates people. That's an individual, not the Catholic Church. I'm not allowed to hate people. It's "contrary to charity:" and is another very bad idea. (Catechism, 2303)

As for the 'hateful' things the Catholic Church stands for? I think Futon Sheen was right:
"There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church — which is, of course, quite a different thing."
(Bishop Fulton Sheen, Foreword to Radio Replies Vol. 1, page ix (1938), via Wikiquote)

Meanwhile, in Cuba - - -

"Cuban recovery from Hurricane Sandy will take years, agency reports"
CNA/EWTN News (October 31, 2012)

"The secretary general of Caritas Cuba said it will take years for the eastern section of the country to recover from Hurricane Sandy but that the local Church is bringing relief to thousands of victims.

"Maritza Sanchez told CNA on Oct. 29 that the situation in Cuba 'remains very difficult, especially in the city of Santiago, because the damage has been so severe.'...

"...While the Cuban government plays the key role in providing assistance, she continued, the Church is helping wherever possible and is seeking 'to officially collaborate with the structures of the State in order to broaden our efforts.'

"She said priests in hardest hit areas are identifying the families that have been most affected and are helping to distribute the food and water provided by Caritas. In some areas make-shift soup kitchens have been set up to help those whose needs are critical...."
I see what Caritas Cuba and the Catholic Church is doing in Cuba as another example of how we work with folks: where they live, as they are. On a local level, often as not, we are the 'natives,' the folks who live in an area.

"Subsidiarity" is fancy word for making decisions - and acting - as close to the local level as possible. I've shown how this principle works before. (April 28, 2011)

Ancient Church, Recent Events

Cuba has a communist government. Catholic institutions operate in Cuba. This doesn't mean that the Catholic Church is a commie plot.

The Catholic Church is also not a subversive puppet of Western capitalistic imperialism.

We were around nearly two millennia before the east-west, communism-capitalism conflict started: and I strongly suspect we'll be around when Whigs, Tories, Democrats, and Republicans are as ancient as Optimates and Populares are today:
Moving along.

"...Every Parish is Making an Analysis..."

"Cuban bishops bring relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy"
CNA/EWTN News (October 30, 2012)

"The bishops of eastern Cuba toured the provinces of Santiago, Holguin and Guantanamo to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, and bring pastoral and material aid to thousands of victims.

"An official from the Diocese of Holguin told CNA on Oct. 26 that local Bishop Emilio Aranguren 'personally went to all of the affected parishes,' and later went to Santiago to meet with Archbishop Dionisio Garcia, who also toured the affected areas...."

"...Manolo Martinez of Caritas Holguin said emergency teams are fanning out across the affected regions of the province and that 'every parish is making an analysis of its surroundings so that we can do our best to help the greatest number of people possible.'..."
I mentioned subsidiarity, getting the job done as far away from 'headquarters' as possible, before.

I think one reason the Catholic Church is so effective at charity work is that most of the time, we're already 'there.' Our organization is global, but we're also neighbors in the narrow sense of the word: folks who live down the street, across the valley, whatever.

Preparing For Sandy

"Catholic community helps East Coast prepare for Hurricane Sandy"
Michelle Bauman, CNA/EWTN News (October 29, 2012)

" As much of the East Coast braces for Hurricane Sandy, the Church is helping local people prepare for the storm, reaching out to offer shelter to the homeless and organizing disaster response efforts.

" 'Since Hurricane Katrina, we have focused on being prepared for future disasters,' Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, said in an Oct. 27 statement.

" 'Not only are we early responders, but our presence in the community also puts us in a position to be able to quickly assess and provide support in the long-term,' he added...."
I've said this before. The Catholic Church doesn't insist, or expect, that 'the natives' will stop being who we are. The Church has worked with worked with barbarian warlords, kings, dictators, and the American Congress.

That's not the same as saying that the Church approves of whatever the local shaman or Senator does: and that's yet another topic. Topics.

Related posts:
1 The Catholic Church says that human life is sacred. (Catechism, 2258) This belief results in awkward rules about killing people. Basically, as a Catholic I'm not allowed to kill an innocent person; even if:
  • It's legal
    (Catechism, 2270-2275)
  • 'In the victim's best interests'
    (Catechism, 2276-2279)
  • Part of an experiment
    (Catechism, 2292-2295)
  • I'm 'just following orders'
    (Catechism, 2313)
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Spamming for Jesus?

'If I had more time I Would have written a shorter post.'

This list of headings may help you find something interesting.
Or, not:
I ran into an annoying sort of automated evangelization Monday. A few hours later, I realized that I was still being annoyed. I had several options, including:
  1. Stay annoyed
  2. Try to forget the incident
  3. Think of a way to use what I'd experienced
Option #1 was the easiest, but not useful: to say the least. Option #2 probably wouldn't have worked. Option #3 meant a bit of work, but I already had some useful ideas. So I started writing this post.

This week's 'Bible and Catechism' post is mostly about evangelization and marketing: not original sin. Maybe I'll get to that next week. Or, not. (May 30, 2012)

' Oh, No: Not Evangelizing! '

I think the words "evangelization" and "evangelizing" have taken quite a beating. With my background, they remind me of:
  • Radio preachers with
    • Unyielding dedication to spreading the gospel of
      • Guilt
      • Shame
      • Commie Plots
    • The latest End Times Bible prophecy
  • Packs of 'born again' college students
    • Patrolling the campus
      • With a meeting coming up
      • A quota of new attendees to meet
  • A disheveled man at a bus stop
    • Holding a largish book
    • Screaming Bible verses
The fellow screaming at commuters didn't have much effect on me, beyond being an annoyance.

(Back to the list of headings)

From the Department of Unintended Consequences

Those radio preachers made a difference, but probably not the way they planned. Thanks in part to their routine rants, I:
  • Developed an appreciation of rock music
  • Took a long, hard look at major religions
  • Eventually become a Catholic
Some college professors, and their version of multiculturalism, helped too. Although, again, probably not the way they planned.

With experiences like mine, I'm sympathetic with folks who cringe or snarl when faced with - or threatened by - "evangelization."

A person would reasonably think that I'd avoid "evangelizing." That person would be right: sort of. I don't want to attack another person with the sort of abrasive, abusive, condescending, preaching that I've encountered.

Happily, I don't have to. Because telling folks that they're the scum of the earth, boosting the headcount at meetings, and yelling Bible verses is not, in my considered opinion, all there is to evangelization. I don't even think those are the best approaches.

(Back to the list of headings)

"Go Therefore...."

My Lord left standing orders, just before leaving:
"Christ sent his apostles so that 'repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations.' 41 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' 42 The mission to baptize, and so the sacramental mission, is implied in the mission to evangelize, because the sacrament is prepared for by the word of God and by the faith which is assent to this word:
"The People of God is formed into one in the first place by the Word of the living God. . . . The preaching of the Word is required for the sacramental ministry itself, since the sacraments are sacraments of faith, drawing their origin and nourishment from the Word.43"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1122)
(Back to the list of headings)

"Teach Christ," But First - - -

I'm not an apostle. For starters, I'm about two thousand years too young to be part of the first set. Turns out, I'm still expected to do apostolic work:
"Since, like all the faithful, lay Christians are entrusted by God with the apostolate by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, they have the right and duty, individually or grouped in associations, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all men throughout the earth...."
(Catechism, 900)
Oh, great. I've got to do what I can to help folks know "the divine message of salvation." First, though, I've got to know that message myself:
"Whoever is called 'to teach Christ' must first seek 'the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus'; he must suffer 'the loss of all things . . .' in order to 'gain Christ and be found in him,' and 'to know him and the power of his resurrection, and [to] share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible [he] may attain the resurrection from the dead.' 17

"From this loving knowledge of Christ springs the desire to proclaim him, to 'evangelize,' and to lead others to the 'yes' of faith in Jesus Christ. But at the same time the need to know this faith better makes itself felt. To this end, following the order of the Creed, Jesus' principal titles - 'Christ,' 'Son of God,' and 'Lord" (article 2) - will be presented. The Creed next confesses the chief mysteries of his life - those of his Incarnation (article 3), Paschal mystery (articles 4 and 5), and glorification (articles 6 and 7)."
(Catechism, 428-429)
(Back to the list of headings)

A Few Rough Patches, and Infinite Depths of Joy

I haven't suffered "the loss of all things." I am surrounded by a good family: four surviving children and a loving wife. Life has been, for me, pretty good. On the other hand, I've:
  • Been used as a sort of lab rat
    • Without my parents' knowledge
  • Lived for decades with
    • Undiagnosed
      • Major depression
      • ADHD-inattentive or
        • Asperger syndrome
        • Something else
    • Pain in my hip joints
      • Until getting them swapped out
        • In my '50s
  • Lost a dear friend to suicide
  • Lost two of six children
    • Nearly lost my wife when the second died
    (June 3, 2012)
Along the way, I've gotten a glimpse or two of an infinite ocean of joy: one which will overwhelm all the fleeting pains. (June 3, 2012)

I could try to describe that unending depth of joy: but it's, well, indescribable. Besides, there are plenty of folks online already who are much better at writing 'uplifting' posts.

(Back to the list of headings)

"A Desire ... to 'Evangelize'

Like the Catechism says:
"...From this loving knowledge of Christ springs the desire to proclaim him, to 'evangelize,' and to lead others to the 'yes' of faith in Jesus Christ. But at the same time the need to know this faith better makes itself felt...."
(Catechism, 429)
I want to 'proclaim Jesus.' That's why I write these posts, partly.

I've also found that the discipline of researching and writing these things helps me stay on-task as I learn about my faith. Quite a lot of wisdom has accumulated as the millennia rolled by: just trying to catch up would be a full-time job, one which would not be finished in a lifetime.

I try to share what I'm learning in these posts. Learning about my Lord, and what His Church has been teaching, and applying what I learn to my decisions and actions: that's what "following Catholic beliefs and practices" is like for me.

Some folks feel their faith intensely. I don't:
"...Truthfully, though, I don't think I've *ever* had that 'deep, keening longing that feels as if it can never be slaked except by an even more overwhelming Presence.' It's not that I don't 'really' believe: at least, I don't think so.

"But those intense 'mountain top' emotional experiences I've read about in 'lives of the Saints' books? Sure, I've 'felt the presence of God' when the Host is consecrated - no big surprise, considering that the Second Person of the Trinity had arrived. I've gotten homesick for the place I'm not at yet. But a sort of overwhelming emotional rush? No.

"On the other hand, I've got a sort of nerdy fascination with God's creation - and a sense of wonder at what the Creator's making...."
(August 12, 2011)
(Back to the list of headings)

Bible Verses and Getting a Grip

The last few verses from Matthew are among my favorites. If you follow this blog, thank you very much; and you've run into this fairly often:
"8The eleven 9 disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.

"10 When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.

"11 Then Jesus approached and said to them, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

"Go, therefore, 12 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

"teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 13 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.' "
(Matthew 28:16-20)
Jesus says something along the same lines in Mark:
"He said to them, 'Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature....' "
(Mark 16:14)
I could take Mark 16:14, decide that the easiest way to "proclaim the gospel to every creature" would be to set up software to do most of the work. I'd get a 'best of' selection of the New Testament, and add some 'inspirational' slogans:
"...while we were still sinners Christ died for us."
Jesus saves!
"Your sins are forgiven."
I gave my life to Jesus!
The quotes are from Romans 5:8, Luke 7:48, by the way.

(Back to the list of headings)

Preacher Bots

Now, imagine that you're at a website where folks get together to play games and chat: and one of the (people?) doesn't do anything except 'stand there' and post pious slogans.

That's what I ran into on Monday.

There's nothing wrong with what was being posted. It was how the slogans and Bible verses were being presented that bothered me.

Maybe there was a human being somewhere, posting those slogans and Bible bits at regular intervals. I think it's more likely that someone had programmed a 'bot,' sort-of-intelligent software that performs tasks without supervision.

(Back to the list of headings)

Dubiously-Prudent Decisions

Relying on Christians to work out our own procedures has led to some odd behavior. For example, I've been told that some literal-minded folks read Mark 16 and started picking up snakes.

I think "preacher bot" are probably used by folks who sincerely think they've got a good idea. They're using software to drop slogans about Jesus into online conversations. That leaves them free to pursue other interests.

What could be the harm in that? After all, it says "proclaim the gospel," right there in the Bible!

(Back to the list of headings)

Spamming for Jesus?

Some of the folks whose conversations were getting interrupted by that "preacher bot" were clearly annoyed by the intrusion. Some vented their frustration and anger in terms that got edited out by the online service's software. For which I'm grateful. It's a 'family and kids' site.

Judging from the reactions, I'd say that what the bot was doing was creating a nuisance: not evangelizing.

I could be wrong about that. Maybe some of the folks who expressed annoyance at the '**** bot.' will eventually 'see the light,' get fired up, and start a bot of their own: or decide to 'evangelize the old fashioned way: screaming Bible verses to folks waiting at a bus stop.

My guess is that many or most folks would see the 'preacher bot' as a pious version of the bots promoting dubious get-rich-quick offers and improbably cheap pharmaceuticals. My hope is that nobody will associate spammy 'bots for Jesus' with my Lord, and assume that Jesus is just one more lure used by swindlers.

I think engaging others in a social context in order to 'proclaim Christ' is a good idea. I'm not particularly good at it: but others have the gift.

Using 'preacher bots,' or acting like an unusually stupid AI, doesn't seem to do much except annoy the targets. At least the shabby man screaming at commuters cared enough to show up 'in person.'

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Monday, May 21, 2012

Uncalled-for Charity

More posts about "Caritas in Veritate" (Charity in Truth)
"Caritas in Veritate"
When I was growing up, being a "self-made man" was seen as a good thing, and so was single-minded pursuit of wealth.

Celebrations of rugged individualism gave way to vituperation of materialistic greed - which wasn't an entirely bad idea. (May 14, 2011)

Luxuriating in self-absorbed pursuit of personal whims wasn't, I think, much of an improvement; neither was blaming logical consequences of daft decisions on 'society;' and that's another topic. topics.

Swizzle Sticks, Rainbow Acres, and an Astonishing Experience

I'm an American, so I'm used to seeing advertisements for "FREE" stuff. Sometimes it's "get your FREE swizzle stick: just send $19.95 shipping and handling...." Sometimes it's a "FREE" dinner: during which you hear a sales pitch for some technically-legal pyramid scheme. Maybe someone's still selling lots at 'Rainbow Estates' in the Florida Everglades. And that's yet another topic.

But sometimes "free" really does mean "free." Which gets me into Chapter Three of "Caritas in Veritate:"
"Charity in truth places man before the astonishing experience of gift. Gratuitousness is present in our lives in many different forms, which often go unrecognized because of a purely consumerist and utilitarian view of life. The human being is made for gift, which expresses and makes present his transcendent dimension...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 34)
There's quite a bit in this chapter's introductory section. Here's my take on what Pope Benedict XVI said in "Caritas in Veritate," 34:

"Individual," Yes; Totally Independent, Hardly

I think 'being an individual' is important. I also think 'being an individual' is what every human being is; that it takes effort to be otherwise; and - good grief - that's yet again more topics.

But we're not completely independent individuals. That's what many corporate yes-men, hygienically-challenged navel-gazers, and driven executives of my youth seem to have missed. As a human being, I depend on a great deal: the oxygen-nitrogen mix I breathe; water that cycles through the streams, rivers, oceans, and rain; the myriad living creatures around me; uncounted millennia of human development; and more.
"...Sometimes modern man is wrongly convinced that he is the sole author of himself, his life and society. This is a presumption that follows from being selfishly closed in upon himself, and it is a consequence - to express it in faith terms - of original sin...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 34)
(Back to the list of headings)

"Original Sin" and Getting a Grip

"Original sin," for a practicing Catholic, is not the notion that human beings are completely icky:
"The doctrine of original sin, closely connected with that of redemption by Christ, provides lucid discernment of man's situation and activity in the world. By our first parents' sin, the devil has acquired a certain domination over man, even though man remains free. Original sin entails 'captivity under the power of him who thenceforth had the power of death, that is, the devil.'298 Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action,299 and morals."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 407)
If that doesn't sound like what you've been told about Catholic beliefs, I'm not surprised. I've been over this sort of thing before:
(Back to the list of headings)

Original Sin, the Economy, and the Big Picture

Worship, prayer, and contemplation of God, are part of being Catholic. So is acting as if God matters:
"...The Church's wisdom has always pointed to the presence of original sin in social conditions and in the structure of society: 'Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action and morals'[85]. In the list of areas where the pernicious effects of sin are evident, the economy has been included for some time now...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 34)
That phrase, "social actions and morals," may need a bit of explaining. "Morality," in the Catholic sense, includes sexual ethics: but there's a whole lot more to morality than zipper issues. (June 3, 2011)

(Back to the list of headings)

Material Prosperity, Social Action, and Ethics

Like I've said before, "Caritas in Veritate" isn't light reading. Like most documents on the Vatican's website, it's densely-packed text. I think this is a reasonable paraphrase of what comes right after "social actions and morals:" ("Caritas in Veritate," 34)

Believing that man is self-sufficient, able to eliminate the evil present in history by his unaided action, is a bad idea. It leads to confusing happiness and salvation with immanent forms of material prosperity and social action.

Believing that the economy must be autonomous, that it must be shielded from ethical "influences," is also a bad idea. It has led to economic, social and political systems that trample upon personal and social freedom. This loss of personal and social freedom make the promised justice of ethics-free economic systems impossible.

"Immanent?!" Dictionary time:
  • Immanent (adjective)
    • Subjective
    • Qualities that are spread throughout something
    (Princeton's WordNet)
(Back to the list of headings)

Christian Hope: It's Not an Oxymoron

I've explained how the malignant virtue of a particular flavor of religion encouraged me to take a long, hard, look at Christianity: and other major religions. Eventually I converted to Catholicism, and that's still another topic.

Once in a while I run into a Catholic who seems convinced that gloominess is next to Godliness, but that's personal style: not Church teaching. I've posted about the Desert Fathers, 19th-century 'lives of sick and dying saints,' and perceptions, before.

Bottom line, "Christian hope" in this excerpt from Benedict XVI's encyclical isn't an oxymoron:
"...As I said in my Encyclical Letter Spe Salvi, history is thereby deprived of Christian hope[86], deprived of a powerful social resource at the service of integral human development, sought in freedom and in justice. Hope encourages reason and gives it the strength to direct the will[87]. It is already present in faith, indeed it is called forth by faith. Charity in truth feeds on hope and, at the same time, manifests it. As the absolutely gratuitous gift of God, hope bursts into our lives as something not due to us, something that transcends every law of justice. Gift by its nature goes beyond merit, its rule...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 34)
That reminded me of what Luke wrote about judging, measures, and all that:
"13'Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

"Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.' "
(Luke 6:37-38)
Looking at that passage, it's not exactly 'gratuitous.' Then there's Matthew 5:44-45, which is more what Benedict XVI meant: I think.

(Back to the list of headings)

Finding, and Receiving, Truth

Back to "Caritas in Veritate:"
"...Gift by its nature goes beyond merit, its rule is that of superabundance. It takes first place in our souls as a sign of God's presence in us, a sign of what he expects from us. Truth - which is itself gift, in the same way as charity - is greater than we are, as Saint Augustine teaches[88]. Likewise the truth of ourselves, of our personal conscience, is first of all given to us. In every cognitive process, truth is not something that we produce, it is always found, or better, received. Truth, like love, 'is neither planned nor willed, but somehow imposes itself upon human beings' [89]...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 34)
That's not the sort of 'I have my truth, you have yours' thing that's been fashionable for much of my life. The notion that 'truth is what you imagine,' that reality is what each of us believes that it is, never made sense to me. My perception was that if I let go of a brick that's over my foot: my foot's going to hurt, whether I believe in bricks and gravity or not.

(Back to the list of headings)

The Principle of Gratuitousness

"...Because it is a gift received by everyone, charity in truth is a force that builds community, it brings all people together without imposing barriers or limits...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 34)
This isn't the sort of negative 'community' of John Lennon's "Imagine" (1971), with "no countries ... And no religion too...."

The sort of community the Catholic Church builds is literally universal, καθολικός: but it's a positive unity, achieved by adding to what each of us already has. I didn't stop being American, or male, or a nerd, when I became a Catholic. I've been over this before. (April 23, 2012, April 18, 2012, August 12, 2011; Apathetic Lemming of the North (April 15, 2011)

There's quite a bit more in this part of "Caritas in Veritate." I think I've got the main points of the last paragraph in section 34 here:
  • Because charity in truth is a gift received by everyone, it
    • Is a force that builds community
    • Brings all people together
      • Without imposing barriers or limits
  • The human community that we build by ourselves can
    • Never be a fully fraternal community
      • purely by its own strength
    • It can not
      • Overcome every division
      • Become a truly universal community
  • God-who-is-Love calls into being
    • The unity of the human race
    • A fraternal communion
  • Economic, social, and political development
    • The logic of gift does not
      • Exclude justice
      • Merely sit alongside justice
        • As a second element
        • Added from without
    • Must make room for the principle of gratuitousness
      • As an expression of fraternity
      • If it is to be authentically human
    (See "Caritas in Veritate," 34)

Humanity: United with Justice and Charity

Unity of the human race, a unity which is greater than any barrier; economic, social, and political development which embraces justice and charity: that's going to take quite a bit of effort. And time.

Quite a great deal of time, I suspect. I don't expect to see anything resembling that unity in my lifetime: but it's a good goal to work for.

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    Encyclical Letter of on Christian Hope
    Pope Benedict XVI (November 30, 2007)
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Monday, March 26, 2012

Intercultural Dialogue: Great Potential; Big Risks

More posts about "Caritas in Veritate" (Charity in Truth)
"Caritas in Veritate"

What I'm Doing

"Caritas in Veritate" is available online, translated into English. If you want to know what it says, I recommend setting aside some good-sized blocks of time, and reading it.

So, why am I posting about "Caritas in Veritate" each Monday? It's a pretty good way for me to make sure I keep studying the encyclical.

You're welcome to come along for the ride: although reading these posts is arguably about as exciting as going over someone else's lecture notes. I've got the teaching authority of "some guy with a blog," by the way. I don't speak for the Church.

Today, I'm going to pry apart a 271-word paragraph, see what the main points are: and then give my take on what Benedict XVI said.

Cultures, Differences, and Dialog

Pope Benedict XVI says that a lot has changed since Pope Paul VI's day. And he's right. Paul VI was Pope from 1963 to 1978. Back then, Woodstock and Disco were 'current events.' Not at the same time, of course.

Comparing today's world to what we had a third of a century ago, Benedict XVI says:
"...At that time cultures were relatively well defined and had greater opportunity to defend themselves against attempts to merge them into one. Today the possibilities of interaction between cultures have increased significantly, giving rise to new openings for intercultural dialogue: a dialogue that, if it is to be effective, has to set out from a deep-seated knowledge of the specific identity of the various dialogue partners...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 26)
I think it's important to note that Benedict XVI isn't saying that interaction between cultures is wrong. What he says is "...that, if it is to be effective, has to set out from a deep-seated knowledge of the specific identity of the various dialogue partners...." ("Caritas in Veritate," 26) [emphasis mine]

Cultures, Differences, and Danger

Next, Benedict XVI says that "the increased commercialization of cultural exchange today leads to a twofold danger." I don't think Benedict XVI, or the Catholic Church, is for - or against - capitalism. Not in a narrow, chauvinistic, sense. (March 13, 2010)

I wondered where this "twofold danger" thing was going. It sounded a little like one of American culture's unpalatable quirks.

I think this is a fairly accurate outline of what Benedict XVI said. But but like I said, I recommend reading the original. Anyway, here are the two dangers:
  • A cultural eclecticism that is often assumed uncritically
    • Cultures are simply
      • Placed alongside one another
      • Viewed as substantially
        • Equivalent
        • Interchangeable
    • This easily yields to a relativism
      • Not serving true intercultural dialogue
    • On the social plane
      • Cultural relativism has the effect that
        • Cultural groups coexist side by side
        • But remain separate
          • With no authentic dialogue
            • Therefore with no true integration
  • Cultural levelling
    and indiscriminate acceptance of types of conduct and life-styles
    • The opposite of cultural eclecticism
    • One loses sight of the profound significance of the
      • Culture of different nations
      • Traditions of the various peoples
        • By which the individual defines himself in relation to life's fundamental questions
    (adapted from "Caritas in Veritate," 26)
Here's the problem with both of those possibilities:
"...What eclecticism and cultural levelling have in common is the separation of culture from human nature. Thus, cultures can no longer define themselves within a nature that transcends them[63], and man ends up being reduced to a mere cultural statistic. When this happens, humanity runs new risks of enslavement and manipulation."
("Caritas in Veritate," 26)
I do not see this as the sort of isolationist stuff that crops up around election time here in America. The problem isn't, as far as I can see, that we've got different cultures around the world: or that we're communicating with each other. The problem seems to be that we run the risk of losing sight of people in the process.

Change, Differences, and Me

I don't have a problem with change. (March 20, 2012) I think assuming that change is always bad is as silly as feeling that change is always good.

I also don't have a problem with living in a world where most folks don't look and act pretty much just like I do. We're supposed to be different. (August 26, 2010)

I had to think about paragraph 26 for a bit, though. At first glance, it reminded me of the all-too-familiar American nativism that some folks don't seem to have left behind. (February 29, 2012)

After breaking out Benedict XVI's ideas, though: this paragraph looks more like a call for acknowledging cultural differences. And remembering that people who look and act differently are - people.

Is that an over-simplification? Yes. Benedict XVI also pointed out that intercultural dialog is happening, fast: and that we need to be careful in how we approach it. But not, I think, that intercultural dialog is 'bad.'

Huge Potential, Big Risks

As for "new risks of enslavement and manipulation," those are rather dramatic words. But I'm inclined to agree. Today's world is changing, fast. Folks are able to communicate with each other with a speed and ease that used to be limited to our immediate family and neighbors.

There's a huge potential, I think, for good in this "intercultural dialog." But I agree with Benedict XVI that there are big risks. Whatever else is true about our era: Boring, it's not.

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Marian Apparition: Champion, Wisconsin

Background:Posts in this blog: In the news:

What's That Doing in a Nice Catholic Blog?

From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.

I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.

For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination. I try to block those ads.

Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.

Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms, - not Catholic teaching.