Holy Father Calling For "Truth" In Catholic Universities

Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the Czech; Pope Benedict held a meeting in the famous Castle of Prague and took the opportunity to speak on Catholic higher education: “I address you as one who has been a professor, solicitous of the right to academic freedom and the responsibility for the authentic use of reason, and is now the Pope who, in his role as Shepherd, is recognized as a voice for the ethical reasoning of humanity... The freedom that underlies the exercise of reason, be it in a university or in the Church, has a purpose: it is directed to the pursuit of truth, and as such gives expression to a tenet of Christianity which in fact gave rise to the university....Indeed,” he continued, “man’s thirst for knowledge prompts every generation to broaden the concept of reason and to drink at the wellsprings of faith. It was precisely the rich heritage of classical wisdom, assimilated and placed at the service of the Gospel, which the first Christian missionaries brought to these lands and established as the basis of a spiritual and cultural unity which endures to this day.”
Digging into the thorny issue of academic freedom in universities, and the autonomy usually claimed by the academic world, Pope Benedict said that the proper autonomy of a university finds meaning in “its accountability to the authority of truth.”

Pope Benedict spoke of "the mending of the breach between science and religion," He concluded his thoughts by saying: “An understanding of reason that is deaf to the divine and which relegates religions into the realm of subcultures, is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures that our world so urgently needs. In the end, ‘fidelity to man requires fidelity to the truth, which alone is the guarantee of freedom." CNS

Catholic Femina Speaks: Catholic Universities have been dropping like flies throughout the twentieth century and have declined even more through out the twenty-first century... still people every where are still funding these institutions that do not teach the truths that Holy Mother Church teaches. I am glad that the Pope has made a stand on his authority as the head of the Church to make these institutions accountable to someone. Cabrini College trying to promote homosexual agendas; Notre Dame giving Obama an honorary degree all in the name of the Catholic Church. Evidence has revealed that one's course of study does impact one's faith, and when a good intending individual attends a college that has the name "Catholic," while there is no Catholicity in their university. The new Newman Guide to Choosing A Catholic College has been released, and the schools on the list show "accountability to truth" as the Pope has demanded and a truly Catholic University. The United States Catholic Council of Bishops should follow the Pope's lead and protect the Church from Universities that ignore Church teachings. Catholic is not a club, rather a tradition of morals and beliefs to uphold. Pope Benedict calls for truth and to be Catholic is to want nothing less.

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.

Fessio to Attend Ratzinger Schulerkreis

Pope Benedict XVI is to hold his annual Ratzinger School Circle. Former students of his gather with him to discuss relevant topics and this year's theme is the "Mission of the Church." The members attending the group are the Pope's former students from the theology departments of Tubingen and Ratisbona. Included in the invitees Cardinal Cristoph Schonborn of Vienna, who was also one of the editors of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and from the United States Fr. Joseph Fessio of Ignatius Press; the former Theologian in Residence at Ave Maria University. CNA

Pope Cam At Castel Gandolfo

The Vatican has installed a new webcam at Castel Gandolfo, it allows veiwers to see the Pope while he is strolling in his garden. On this italian website are other Vatican cameras that will give you a chance to see the Pope at other times as well.

Click Here To View The Vatican Webcam

Catholic's Need Social-Networking For Evangelizing

The Catholic Church is called to evangelize the world... Facebook, My Space, Flock Note, Twitter etc. are the means that modern evangelist have to save souls. The Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, the leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales has condemned the use of social networking sites; claiming that social networking tools under-mine humanity. He believes the focus has been on quantity rather than quality of friends, and only taking a surface approach to friendship. “Friendship is something that is hard work and enduring when it's right” says Archbishop Nichols, but he does not recall the Pope Benedict XVI asking faithful to use technology. It is difficult to find friends of faith and using a tool such as Facebook having people of faith around you is a blessing. In contrast to Archbishop Nichol’s argument, I know many people who use social networking to find good friends who share their faith. Good friendships can be pursued with people of different faith backgrounds, but sharing one’s faith with other members of the mystical body of Christ aids you on your path to holiness it makes the journey easier.
The theme for Pope Benedict’s Day of Technology on May 24, 2009 was: “New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship!” The Holy Father does not Catholics to run away from technology. He wants us to embrace it for the furthering of the faith in a technology driven world. Pope Benedict warns Catholics not to be obsessive or allow families to suffer from virtual acquaintances. He says modern technology has “extraordinary potential” and in his May speeches the Pope asked the “digital generation…to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world” blogging, writing and texting as a new medium for evangelizing. Pope Benedict is asking the Catholic Digital-Generation to work against the cyber-bulling, indecencies, inhumanities on the web to bring Christians closer to Christ. The Holy Father is asking faithful to protect technology from Satan; we cannot run away from it, we are obliged to minister to those using technology. We as Catholics are not to condemn social-networking sites; we are to employ these tools to forge new friendships, fight together against temptation, and us the modern media to educate for the salvation of souls.
CNS Spero News

Communion Rail Back In Style?

At the name of Jesus every name should bend… and now they will! Pope Benedict has been working to return the reverence surrounding the Eucharist. Cardinal Llovera, the new prefect for the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments said: "It is the mission of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacraments to work to promote Pope Benedict's emphasis on the traditional practices of liturgy, such as reception of Communion on the tongue while kneeling." By making the faithful kneel for the reception of the Eucharist the priest will be able lower the number of liturgical abuses that occur. A major problem that has been growing is the lack of faith in the Eucharist, and moving to reverent reception of Communion is hoped to help boost the belief in faithful. New Blaze

Catholic Femina Speaks: There are too many liturgical abuses that cannot be stopped when there are dozens of Eucharistic ministers in every direction. People race through Communion like ants try to get back to their pew. The faithful have difficulty realizing that Jesus is present when they are passing by the Communion line like the ice cream stand. The problem that needs to be taken up now, are the modern churches that are not inductive to reverence and more concerned about stadium seating and lighting. The Communion rail has been missing for a long time… but we might see the revival soon.

Pope To Use Green Energy To Help Youth

Pope Benedict is going to turn his Bavarian home into a green energy making machine. The pope has received nearly 600 square feet of photovoltaic solar panels installed on the roof. The panels are expected to generate 5,800 kilowatt hours of energy a year, which corresponds to saving 11 barrels of petroleum. This power will be sold for around $3,500 dollars annually and the funds are going to be used to fund the education of youth in trade and job skills. The house is located in the Regensburg suburb of Pentling.

The Pope has also announced that he is going to meet with the race-car drivers in the upcoming “Eco-Rally,” car drivers racing on clean energy. The race will take place outside of the Vatican and will finish at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, and then car drivers will meet the pope and participate in the noontime Sunday Angelus prayer in the courtyard of the papal residence.

Catholic News Service

The Next Vatican Idol?

"Pope Benedict Modeling For Album Cover"

For those who do their Christmas shopping early... the American Idols are not the only ones to be singing the summer away! Pope Benedict XVI is releasing the first ever music album by a pope. The Christmas Album will be available just in time for the Holidays and is expected to go platinum.

Coming from Abbey Road studios this may be a first: it features the pope praying as well as singing. Geffen/Universal says Pope Benedict's album will include eight original pieces of contemporary classical music. The pontiff will sing and recite prayers to the Virgin Mary.

Benedict will be accompanied by the Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, as recorded in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The original compositions are performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded at London's Abbey Road.
Proceeds from the as-yet-untitled album will help fund music education for underprivileged children around the world. CBS News & A.P.

Album Available November 30th

CALLING ALL PRIESTS

"Priest In Training Program"

Pope Benedict XVI is Calling All Priests home to Rome for the close of the year dedicated to Priests. June 9-11, 2010 will be the international conference of priests and it will culminate with a mass by the Pope.

Pope Warns of Technology Overshadowing Humanity

In the wake of G8 Pope Benedict came out to warn about the dangers of the present. The Pope began by saying:"

"The absolutism of technology, which finds its clearest expression in certain
practices contrary to life”, could "draw dark scenarios for the future of
humanity" ANI

He wanted to warn the world against interfering with the place of God, the manipulation of embryos, abortion, euthanasia, sterilization, birth control. The Pope marveled that all these things are done in the supposed interest of humanity.

“These acts that do not respect the true dignity of the person - said the pope -
even when they seem motivated by a 'choice of love', in reality are the result
of a 'material and mechanistic conception of human life', which reduces ' love
without truth to ‘an empty shell to fill arbitrarily' (cf. No. 6 of the
encyclical) and can thus result in adverse effects in integral human
development." Citing other issues in the encyclical, he reiterated that life
“has become a radically anthropological question' in the sense that it involves
the very way we conceive the human being who is increasingly placed in the hands
of man himself through modern biotechnology Solutions to current problems of
humanity can not only be technical, but must take into account all the needs of
the person who has a soul and body." ANI

The Pope is calling the world to take a holistic look at the people. Then to change, and make a new economic system reflecting the needs of people and not use technology in place of the role of God. Furthermore the Holy Father wants us to look at countries that are in need in light of the economic situation. He wants people to not think of the socialistic view of government responsibility, rather to take it upon them to make the world better. The Pope is calling on everyone:

“ to accompany me with prayer. Prayer knows no distance and separation: wherever we are, it makes us one heart and one mind. " ANI

The Holy Father is heading for his much needed vacation in Les Combes.

Obama Promises the Pope Less Abortions

During his meeting with the Holy Father President Barack Obama committed to lower the number of abortions in the US. Pope Benedict gave Obama a Bioethics Textbook, and his new encyclical. The president gave a personal letter from Ted Kennedy, no word of the letters content; but I can only image the shippping charge. Hopefully Obama will hold to his committment to the Holy father. Pray for our president

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

Pope Works To Unite The Church

Essclessia Dei, a commission to bring unity to the church, was resurrected today and refashioned with a mission to help reunite groups outside the church with the fullness of faith. In a document, "Ecclesiae Unitatem," the Holy Father restructured the commission, which was formed in 1988 for those communities and persons who, coming from groups separated from mother church. "The Holy Father desired to demonstrate particular and paternal solicitude toward the Society of St. Pius X in order to overcome the difficulties that still remain to achieving full communion with the Church,” explained Cardinal Levada. This movement was ‘muto propio,’ of his own initiative, and reveals the Pontiff’s desire bring everyone to Christ. Hopefully this will help groups find a good path back to Rome.

NEW ENCYCLICAL!!

The Pope's New Encyclical came out today! It is on Economics and the world view. Read the Holy Father!

"The economic sphere is neither ethically neutral, nor inherently inhuman and opposed to society,"

READ IT!




CHARITY IN TRUTH

Pope Wanted In Russia!

Russia is reaching out to the Vatican! John Paul II lived out his role as pontiff with frustration over his desire to visit Russia. Now Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Italian reporters in an interview ahead of the G-8 summit in Italy this week that relations between his country and the Vatican will "in all likelihood be developed further." Associated Press There has been tension in the past over land holdings between the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches. Medvedev has given indications that he wants to push this aside and work to restore the relations of the Vatican and Moscow. Pope Benedict XVI has not made any statements about a visit to Moscow yet, but it is the world will be watching as the summit in Italy takes shape. A papal visit to Russia would be historic.