Wierd News: Frosty Shrapnel Removed from Man's Lung

RALEIGH, N.C. - Doctors say a North Carolina man who was plagued with coughing fits should be OK now that they have removed a 1-inch piece of plastic from his lung, where it had rested since he apparently inhaled it nearly two years ago while sucking down a soft drink at a Wendy's restaurant. Doctors at Duke University Medical Center say the plastic fragment of an eating utensil — with the Wendy's logo still legible on the side — was likely to blame for the coughing, fatigue and pneumonia spells that plagued John Manley for almost two years. They pulled the fast-food foreign object from Manley's left lung during a Sept. 10 surgery. The 50-year-old Wilmington resident said he probably inhaled it while gulping a drink from Wendy's. NBC

Catholic Femina Speaks: He inhaled the end of his spoon while drinking his frosty?!! If this was a flavor it would be Shrapnel. I love Frosties, but I don't ever eat the spoon... I guess this was a die hard Wendy's fan. This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "fast food kills!"

French Preschool Teacher Bites Child?

French court has fined a preschool teacher $1,450 for biting the cheek of an allegedly unruly 4-year-old during a bathroom break. The court in the Normandy town of Lisieux handed down the fine Wednesday over the March 2007 incident in the nearby town of Houlgate. The teacher had denied the boy's claim and said he had been misbehaving. The ruling came after a medical report showed a bruise on his face.The school reprimanded the 48-year-old teacher weeks afterward. In keeping with French judicial practice, the court didn't identify the woman because she is still teaching. MSN

Catholic Femina Speaks: I could not believe this story... I have a three year old, and she is adorable, wonderful, imaginative, and a fibber. As all preschool age children she likes to embellish the truth. On occasions she has told me that her stuffed toys came to life, I feel sorry for the humiliation this woman had to go through over a toddler's accusation. Any court that would take the testimony of a four-year-old over an adult is an abomination. A child of four is bound to have multiple bruises at any time from normal activity, and as this was not a bite mark and there was not reasonable evidence of contact I find this story absurd.

Catholic Sports Hall of Fame

The Holy See announced yesterday that they are opening a sports hall of fame. The Vatican has hosted countless competitions and dozens of high-caliber athletes -- most of them lay employees, some of them monsignors and popes.

"Because so few people know about the sporty side of the Vatican and because much of it is oral history that needs to be preserved, one Vatican employee has decided to publish his research. Roberto Calvigioni, department head of sound engineering at Vatican Radio, spoke with the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, this summer about the soccer champs, black belts, tennis aces and cycling stars who will appear in his book, which, he explained, is still in the works. Pope John Paul II obviously stands out as the most athletic pope in memory: He was an avid skier, soccer player, swimmer and hiker. Sports are played at all levels of the vatican and even today's Vatican employee teams have monsignors from the Secretariat of State and various Roman Curia offices as well as the Swiss Guards, lay employees from Vatican Radio, the post office, the Vatican newspaper, the museums, the library and even the Sistine Chapel choir. All battle it out for the 'Vatican Cup' and the 'Super Cup' each year." CNS

Catholic Femina Speaks: I love the idea of a Catholic sports hall of fame, athletes are such as big part of young peoples lives it is important to give recognition to those who uphold the Catholic faith. The above picture is of bishops hanging out in a baseball locker room before mass in with the pope. I would love to be able to watch a Vatican sports match or see the USCCB take on the Swiss Guard... I hope that this will be open to the public soon.

This Ad Reminds Me of Obama Care

Catholic Femina Speaks:When I see this commercial it makes me think of the Obama care... you really have to ask the right questions, or there will be a lot of unpleasant surprises later.

Boycott Gay Ice Cream!

Catholic Femina Speaks: When I go for a pint, I am not speaking of beer... I love the creamy deliciousness of Ice Cream, but I will no longer be purchasing Ben & Jerry's who has introduced a flavor that is homosexual... The Chubby Hubby Ice Cream has been changed to Hubby Hubby Ice Cream in support of Freedom to Marry.

Hearing the Confessions of Shopaholics

Concerned about spending too much during your next shopping trip? Why not pair shopping with a trip to confession. The Diocese of Colorado Springs, Colorado has a new take on evangelization. In a chapel funded by the Capuchins, Knights of Columbus, and the Diocese of Colorado Springs; Mass is now daily available in a shopping mall. In the upper level of the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs nestled between Dillard’s and the Burlington Coat Factory is the Catholic Center where there is Mass and Confession is heard. Recent studies have shown that confessions are down; so this diocese is actively promoting confession for the people. Supported by five Capuchins, the Catholic Center offers people the chance to go to Church inside their comfort zone. “Some people are hesitant to stop into an organized church, but the Catholic Center offers a 'no strings attached' approach,” said Msgr. Robert E. Jaeger, vicar general of the diocese of Colorado Springs. The Center offers Mass twice each day and confession from 9:00am- 10:00pm the same hours of the mall. This Chapel for the shopper has had 72,000 people attend the 6:00pm mass and 16,000 attending the 12:10pm mass since opening in 2001. So if you are looking to go back to school on a good note new shirt and a clean soul are available at the Citadel Mall. CNS

Catholic Femina Speaks: Bringing goodness to weakness? Or is this like when Christ said do not make of my Father's House a market place. I think that Jesus hit people with reeds and over turned the money changers' tables at this point. These Capuchins have made the Father's house in the market and have not busted any ATM Machines. Maybe that makes the difference. I am glad to hear so many people are going to mass and using this as a way to return to the faith. I know that this is a good excuse to go to the mall, I'm going to confession. Can't argue with that one, but the question is can you go make it there without being tempted on the way in. I hope that this will bring many people back to Mass and the sacraments.

New Arrival For Salesian Order!

Congratulations to the Salesian Family! They have officially accepted their 27^th new congregation. This new women’s congregation; their motto is "to look after the poor and the abandoned young girls." The "Sisters of Maria Auxiliatrix" give aid to poor Indian girls; their ministry focuses on education for poor girls, evangelization, and running orphanages and day centers. There are roughly 110 sisters in this congregation throughout India. Zenit

Catholic Style Hitting the Fashion World

The newest craze in the fashion world is clothes designed by a priest called Goods of Conscience. Rev. Andrew O’Connor is being called “a man of the cloth for two reasons.” He received this nickname for his religion and his conscience for fashion. The small clothing company in New York only sells ethically obtained and manufactured products. “The church demands that you don’t just involve yourself in your own personal salvation, but we are really here to work for the salvation of the world,” O’Connor said by way of explaining GOC. The motto of the company is to produce clothing that “look good and do good.” The clothes have been getting immense attention since celeberty Cameron Diaz modeled a pair of shorts designed by O’Connor in the June edition of Vogue. Rev. O’Connor is one of nine Children and is a self-taught designer, created his first pattern when he was 16, sewing a pair of pants from a piece of linen-cotton drapery. He is quoted saying “humble than, humble now.” The idea for the company came to O’Connor while on a retreat in a small town in Guatemala where cloth was made, but the increasing use of cheap Chinese workers made the town’s work obsolete. The items at GOC are expensive with jackets costing $800, but GOC pays all employees a just wage, but it takes fifteen days to weave enough cloth for one shirt. The profits are used in Guatemala to provide children books for school, build churches, and more. At home in the US women in the Bronx are benefitting by learning a new trade, sewing and being paid a fair wage. Look for the styles by Fr. O’Connor in upcoming films and adorned by stars such as Julia Roberts.

For More See New Haven Register

Obama Meets the Pope!

Today, President Barack Obama visited the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI for the first time. The world has been waiting for this meeting; the most liberal president in American history to meet the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Obama greeted the Pope with “It’s a great honor.” The photographers and reporters were made to leave when the two leaders sat down at the Pontiff’s desk. No doubt giving the opportunity for confession, but Obama only called the meeting “productive” rather than life changing… so I doubt he received any sacraments. Toward the end of the meeting Michelle Obama and her two daughters joined the president. Michelle was wearing all black, with an elaborate black veil, the classic garb of Iraqi women. Perhaps she packed the souvenir outfit from Biden’s meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki July 2nd. The Obama administration has been trying to make budget cuts. One more budget was the gift that the President gave to the Pope. In ordinary circumstances the president would have brought a whole set of vestments for the Pontiff, but to save fabric and tax payer money he only gave a stole. No statement yet from the Vatican about the outcome of the meeting.
For More on the Pope Meeting See AmP