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"But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall show you." (John 16:13)
A large & unique variety (over 75 categories) of helpful spiritual, political, & social resources.
Catholic & non-Catholic links. Spiritually enriching Prophecies & Revelations. Powerful commentaries on popular & controversial Church & political news stories. Special studies. SEE BELOW for a detailed summary of these & all the categories listed in the left-hand column.
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6611 Pearl Lane, Unit 195 (Includes mobile home and property)
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This unit is located on Hidden Ridge Resort, near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE!
I feel it very important that I share this spiritual information and I hope that you will not be offended by my efforts. No matter what the level of your faith or your religion, please take the time to listen to this man whether you believe all that he says or not. As it did mine, It will greatly benefit your soul and make it much easier to understand the holy path we all must take to be worthy of Heaven. Thank you and God bless you! Vincent T. Bemowski
Please see:
Also see:
* Prophecy given for "Saint" Loretta ("A fragile flower loved by the Lord") & I - Nov. 13, 1988 (I believe It is meant to be shared with as many people as possible).
* Warning from Our Lady at Akita, Japan.
* Garabandal - The Warning - Punishment - Messages of Hope - Interview with Bishop Del Val Gallo.
* Prophecy of Therese Neumann for the USA in 1946, just after the end of World War II.
* The Message and Secret of La Salette - Includes end times prophecy.
(Scan down this page to see more spiritual information related to these evil times)
YOU GOTTA HAVE HOPE!
Feeling down, discouraged, or depressed? Turn on your sound & see: Four Candles
Also see:
Healing Messages - Designed to bring you encouragement and increase your self-esteem and hope.
- THE EXISTENCE AND PERSON OF JESUS - EVIDENCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT CONFIRMED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
His birth, life, sufferings, Resurrection, Second Coming. Plus Scripture for those going through difficult trials and sufferings.
Spiritual Guide For Daily Living - Due to your current state of health, daily duties, or your other responsibilities, you may not be able to accomplish all of these things each day, but it is good to set daily goals that will not only spiritually benefit your own soul and the souls of those in your care, but the entire Church.
"We adore Thee, we bless Thee, & we thank Thee O Christ, because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world!"
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Catholic Messages USA.com has a world-wide audience. It is hoped that these "Messages" will benefit those who are in need of spiritual reassurance and confidence concerning the teachings of Christ.
"CHRIST IS THE UNSEEN HEAD OF EVERY HOUSE, THE UNSEEN GUEST AT EVERY MEAL, AND THE SILENT LISTENER TO EVERY CONVERSATION."
CATHOLIC LITURGICAL CALENDAR & COMING SPECIAL FEAST DAYS
Saint by Date - Monthly listing - "Most saints and holy people have specially designated feast days. On those days we remember these holy men and women in a special way."
Also see category: Devotions & Feast Days (This is an internal link, you must backspace to return to this section of this page)
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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Rome Reports TV News Agency - Videos of the election of Pope Francis and other news from the Vatican, including special features and stories. (In the "All News" category are thousands of additional videos).
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Stars and Stripes - "Daily newspaper published for the U.S. military, DOD civilians, contractors, and their families... free of control and censorship... maintains news bureaus in Europe, Pacific and the Middle East to provide first-hand reporting on events in those theaters."
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(Includes Additional News Resources)
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Townhall.com - "Designed to amplify conservative voices in America’s political debates. By uniting the nations’ top conservative radio hosts with their millions of listeners...breaks down the barriers between news and opinion, journalism and political participation..."
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(Includes Middle East News Resources)
FEATURED LINKS
Asharq Alawsat - "World's premier pan-Arab daily newspaper... Printed simultaneously on four continents in 12 cities."
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World News Briefs 1 & World News Briefs 2 "Hundreds of interesting stories & commentaries from around the globe." Popular & controversial news, conservative commentaries & studies. Human interest stories. National & international news from a large variety of news sources throughout the world. Hours & hours of interesting reading.
TOP STORIES
"Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones, and of all filthiness. So you also outwardly indeed appear to men JUST, but inwardly you are full of HYPOCRISY and INIQUITY" (Matthew 23:27-28).
The following will remain a featured story because it shows the true nature of PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. A man filled with * EVIL SPIRITS who follows Satan rather than the HOLY SPIRIT. A black hearted, spiritually sick minded man who approves of the murder of the unborn - in the womb, or partially out of the womb. A deceitful, wicked man, filled with pride and a lust for power - the most corrupt, and therefore the worst president the United States has ever had.
JESUS: "And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican."
(Matthew 18:17)
* SPIRITS THAT CAN TRANSFER THROUGH PEOPLE AND SIN - "Though society and even the Church often turn a blind eye to the workings of spirits, the fact is that they exist and the fact is also that -- among their repertoire -- is what might be called "spiritual transference": spiritual energies can be transmitted through people, communication, and things, including at a distance. A person can walk right in with a spirit attached to her or him."
THE FACE OF EVIL
AMERICA'S WORST PRESIDENT
Commentary: Obama, a false Christian and hypocrite, naturally approves of blasphemy in the name of "free speech." Why? Because it comes from a "brother" who, along with many others, worships him as a god. To mock Christ is a grave, grave sin, and to give your approval to it is equally sinful. However, Obama's actions are not surprising, for he personifies EVIL:
"Beware lest any man cheat you by (a morally corrupt) philosophy and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and (teaches) not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8)
Vincent T. Bemowski
Editor, Catholic Messages USA.com
Also see:
How Obama replaced Christ among blacks - "The problem with black Americans is not white racism – but rather the lack of moral character! Until 50 years ago most black Americans were moral. They had faith in God and treated people the way they wanted to be treated. They believed in the promise of America – that if you worked hard and lived right, things would work out for the best. In stark contrast, most blacks today are looking for Barack Obama and the federal government to take care of them. Before the civil-rights movement, nobody – not even the president – could have come in as the 'lord and savior' of the black community."
"Part of Martin Luther King’s "dream" was that his children would someday not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
Ironically, many people today are applauding misguided Black Americans like Obama, Jackson and Wright simply because of the color of their skin, while ignoring the 'content of their character.'"
"Nothing can take the place of a lost child or loved one"
Commentary: Christians know President Obama does not mean that we should also enact laws that prevent the cruel murders of unborn, or partially born human beings. The number of children who were killed in Connecticut, while very tragic, is very, very small in comparision to the number of those killed every day through abortions.
If we as a country do not stop the murder of our unborn, violence will continue to an even greater degree. And although I agree that stricter anti-gun laws may decrease the number of people killed by guns, no anti-gun law will slow the growth of violence.
We also know that prohibition did not work, and strick laws that prevent gun owership will not work either. Guns can be obtained through many means - through the mail & internet, as well as through smuggling across our borders by plane, ship, or other means of transportation.
We have created a climate of violence, it is all around us - in books, magazines, movies, TV, and the internet. Only when we address the true causes and we again come to realize what sin actually does to our soul, (and then, with sincere sorrow, confess those sins) will we be healed as a nation.
Permissive liberals like Obama and other demonized, dysfunctional Democrats (and some Republicians) will never understand this. Therefore, it is left to true Christians (after they have purified their own souls) to pray from their hearts for the conversion of sinners - not only for those in the United States, but throughout the whole world.
Yes, Mr. President, we agree that "nothing can take the place of a lost child or loved one," so why then, do you approve of the "right to kill" unborn Americans through an abortion? And why do you refuse to work to enact laws to protect them?
Vincent T. Bemowski
Editor, Catholic Messages USA.com
Also see:
Pope Benedict says abortion, gay marriage are threats to peace - "Those who insufficiently value human life, and in consequence, support among other things the liberalization of abortion, perhaps do not realize that in this way they are proposing the pursuit of a 'false peace,' since peace presupposes protecting the weakest." (In addition to abortion, Obama approves of gay marriage).
(Scan down this page to see more on the true character of President Obama)
OUR HOPE COMES THROUGH THE CHURCH!
Commentary: Knowing the mental and physical condition of Pope John Paul II in the months preceding his death, it appears that Pope Benedict XVI drew a comparsion to his own mental and physical condition. This does not mean he felt Pope John was not efficiently carrying out his dutes because his illness was of a different nature. It means that although Pope John Paul may have assumed he had little time left, Pope Benedict feels his remaining time on this earth is unknown. Therefore he feels he can best serve the Church in a different capacity while allowing another, who is in a far better state of health, to assume the heavy responsibilities of his Holy Office.
We owe it to this humble man (Pope Benedict XVI) to pray for him so he will have peace and strength in his remaining days on earth. However, we especially need to also pray that the Lord will grant us another holy Pope who will continue to bring about the renewal of His Church in these dangerous times where the light of true faith is growing dimmer and dimmer.
Vincent T. Bemowski
Editor, Catholic Messages USA.com
Also see:
Catholics stunned by pope's resignation - "Looking ahead to the new pope, Ricken (Bishop of the Green Bay Diocese) said he does not anticipate significant changes in the church’s direction. Rather he expects someone who will help churches continue to spread the Catholic message and aid their local congregations. “He doesn’t tell you how to run the diocese,” he added, “but he gives you encouragement and guidance.”
Commentary: Bishop Ricken in truth, does not want anyone aware of how he runs "the diocese." This is because he is very worldly and far from being a good spiritual leader. See category: Scandal: Green Bay Diocease.
Benedict XVI prays penultimate Angelus: “The time of testing is here, let us focus on God again” - "'The time of testing is here. We must not use God for our own ends. Resignation is a testimony of faith. Don’t be afraid to fight the evil spirit, what is important is that we do it alongside Christ the Victor,' the Pope said during today’s Angelus before a crowd of 50 thousand faithful, urging them to turn to 'the Mother Mary.' 'Let us trust in the intercession of the Virgin Mary in this time of testing,' he added. 'Through her we will feel the powerful presence of His Divine Son, so we may ward off temptation with the Word of Christ and place God at the centre of our lives. We must reject the false images of the Messiah as Jesus did when faced with the temptations the Temptor presented him with, the most serious of which is using God for one’s own ends,' Benedict XVI said during the course of the Angelus prayer."
(See below for more Featured News Stories & Commentaries)
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YOUR FINANCIAL HELP & PRAYERS ARE NEEDED!
DISASTER & HUMANITARIAN AID REQUESTS
Please give what you can to one of these aid organizations:
American Red Cross - Hurricane Sandy: Help Those in Need - "The Red Cross continues to focus on reaching as many people as possible who need our help. Your help is urgently needed to continue to support relief efforts. Getting supplies and meals and water into affected areas is the top priority."
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) - "Each year local Catholic Charities agencies serve more than 10 million people regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds... The mission of Catholic Charities agencies is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same."
Catholic Relief Services - "Giving Hope to a World of Need" - "Provides humanitarian relief and development assistance to the poor and marginalized in over 100 countries and territories around the world. Overseas, we work through CRS offices located in the regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America and the Caribbean. CRS also works through regional offices within the United States to support Catholic individuals, parishes and dioceses as they strive to live their faith in solidarity with the poor and make decisions as consumers, voters and advocates to promote more just and peaceful societies."
Catholic World Mission - "Disaster Relief - Philippines - North America - Central America - South America - Child Sponsorship Program - Change for Change Program - Evangelizer Newsletter - Annual Fund Drive - Glory Stories."
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PROPHECY-REVELATIONS
POPE JOHN PAUL II - PROPHECY FOR THE CHURCH
"We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the FINAL confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel versus the anti-Gospel."
---Karol Cardinal Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II), November 9, 1976
"O how good and sweet is thy spirit, O Lord, in all things! And therefore thou chastisest them that err, by little and little; and admonishest them, and speakest to them, concerning the things wherein they offend; that leaving their wickedness, they may believe in thee, O Lord...
Because they did works hateful to thee... merciless murderers of their own children... (abortion). Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them who in their life have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they worshiped. For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error, holding those things for gods (materal things) which are the most worthless among beasts, living after the manner of children without understanding.
Therefore thou hast sent a judgment upon them... they suffered by those very things which they took for gods..."
(Wisdom 12:1-2,4-5,23-25,27)
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"Know also this, that, in the LAST DAYS, shall come dangerous times. Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, Without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness, Traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasures more than of God: Having an appearance indeed of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Now these (people) AVOID."
2 Timothy 3:1-5
GRAVE PREDICTIONS FOR THE USA
The following are not my original thoughts. They are based upon prophecies and revelations that I have read over a period of many years. They are offered here for your discernment:
Our once great nation will continue it's moral decline, destroy itself economically, and lose the respect of many other nations throughout the world. True wisdom will continue to disappear from the mouths of our leaders. Moral corruption will be everywhere - a great majority of our citizens will be looking for a free hand-out. Promises will be broken - with the exception of those who place their trust in the Lord, fear and confusion, rather than love and peace, will dominate the hearts and minds of men and women.
Those who possess true faith will become rare, even among those who call themselves "Christians." But through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Maryand the power of the Holy Rosary, Almighty God will act, and after a period of wide-spread immorality, people throughout the world will be cleansed and again be made pleasing to God. vtb
Also see:
THE PROPHETIC PULSE: STUNNING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT POPE WILL RESIGN COMES DURING TENSE, DRAMATIC TIMES - "As so many now know, St. Malachy foresaw that after a pope associated with the sun (John Paul II was born and his funeral was on the day of an eclipse, and he was closely tied to Fatima, where there was the famous sun miracle) there would be just two popes left; one would come as a pope de gloria olivae, 'from the glory of the olive.' St. Benedict and the popes who took his name have often been associated with peace-making (the olive branch) and St. Benedict's very order, the Benedictines, are also known as 'Olivetans' and has an olive branch as its symbol."
A WARNING FOR CHRISTIANS
Pope Benedict XVI has stated: "The attacks on the Pope and the Church do not just come from outside, but the sufferings of the Church come precisely from within the Church, from the sin that is in the Church. This has always been known, but today we see it in a really terrifying way: The greatest persecution of the Church does not come from external enemies, but is born from the sin in the Church.
The Church, therefore, has the profound need to learn penance again, to accept purification, to learn on one hand forgiveness, as well as the need for justice. Forgiveness does not replace justice."
LISBON, Portugal, MAY 11, 2010 (Zenit.org)
Commentary: Pope Benedict's statement regarding sins committed by members of the Church especially pertains to the poor example being set by our bishops and priests, many of whom have become very worldly and lukewarm in the practice of their faith. This is a great scandal and the main reason for the existence of this website.
Of course, although there are many good Protestants, this does not excuse the gravely sinful behavior of many other Protestants who are guilty of bigotry and prejudice against the Roman Catholic Church. They forget this powerful warning given by Our Lord JESUS CHRIST:
"And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven." (Matthew 18:17-18).
In addition, many Protestants, because of their pride which has blinded them from accepting the Truth (not accepting all that JESUS and His Church teaches, although He has also told us that He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life"), refuse to believe that JESUS directed these words to the first Pope of His Church. In addition, they choose to ignore the fact that their attacks come from the devil:
"And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).
Vincent T. Bemowski - Webmaster/Editor, Catholic Messages USA.com
(This is an internal link, you must backspace to return to this section of this page)
Therese Neumann was a German stigmatist and mystic, who for many years did not sleep and lived without food or liquids except for the daily Eucharist.
When asked by an American GI if the United States would ever be destroyed or invaded in a war, her answer was: "No, but at the end of this century America will be destroyed economically by a series of NATURAL DISASTERS."
"Told by Our Lord that her gift of seeing the past, present, and future in mystic visions was greater than that possessed by anyone else in history."
The Servant of God - Luisa Piccarreta, Little Daughter of The Divine Will - The highest spiritual state you can achieve here on earth. "Everything is in the Divine Will; therefore It wants to love together with you, and if you call It, It gives you Its Love in your power in order to be loved; It gives you Its sanctity to make yourself a saint, Its light to make Itself known and to eclipse your weaknesses, miseries and passions, so that they may no longer have life in you, but only Its Will, laying and forming Its Life in your little act…" (From the Letters of Luisa – January, 2, 1939)
Center for the Divine Will - "Information on the writings of Luisa Piccarretta - We pray, dear pilgrim, that whatever benefits are received from reading the information contained in this site will redound to the greater glory of the Most Holy Trinity and hasten the coming of the Kingdom of the Divine Will to Reign on earth as in Heaven."
Luisa Piccarreta being Slandered - Commentary: There is some controversy concerning the promotion and/or spiritual practices connected with the Luisa Piccarreta's writings about the Kingdom of the Divine Will. Luisa's Cause for Beatification is now being investigated through the Magisterium of the Church. Unfortunately, her good name is being slandered and her "Cause" being scandalized by numbers of "Catholics" through various means, such as websites and articles in Catholic magazines or other news sources.
Padre Pio Foundation of America - "Padre Pio's Early Life - The Stigmata - The Sacraments - His Teachings - His Life - People Who Knew Padre Pio - The Padre Pio Foundation of America - Fr. Bob's Stories of Mercy - Everyday Intercessions" Saint Padre Pio Devotions - "Contains the prayers of Padre Pio, his voice, 35 testimonials, 45 of his spiritual maxims, 50 photographs, and more."
HEALINGS, POWERFUL PROPHECY, WHAT IS COMING FOR THE JUST AND FOR SINNERS. Please note: Many favors have already been granted to those who have prayed to this great saint. If you have been healed through her intercession, or granted a special favor, please contact me with the details. (Backspace to return)
OUR HEAVENLY MOTHER - THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. The Holy Rosary, Fatima, Association of the Miraculous Medal, Doctors of the Church, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Queen of the Divinde Will, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Garabandal, Apparitions, La Salette.
INCLUDES HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY. It is believed that Our Lady herself gave these 15 Promises to Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche.
THE TRIBULATION (GREAT CHASTISEMENT)
Although these Messages are primarily intended for those of the Catholic Faith, they of course apply equally to Shepherds & people of every Faith. vtb
"Behold, I stand at the gate, and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Apocalypse 3:20).
POPULAR SPIRITUAL INFORMATION
"Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error and doctrines of devils. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, and having their conscience seared" (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
(The following are internal links, you must backspace to return to this section of this page)
About/Contact - Apostolic blessings - endorsements - spiritual guidance & counseling - healing prayers - prayer requests.
"We adore Thee, we bless Thee, & we thank Thee O Christ, because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world!"
Charismatic Gifts - Spiritual value of Charismatic Gifts and how they benefit the Church. vtb Devotions & Feast Days - Christmas, Epiphany, Holy Week, Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, First Friday Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Feast of the Ascension, the Shrould of Turin, Stations of the Cross, First Saturday Devotions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, The Marian Movement of Priests, Spiritual Guide for Daily Living, Holy Relics. Dignity of Women - APOSTOLIC LETTER - MULIERIS DIGNITATEM OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF, JOHN PAUL II - AUGUST 15, 1988
Miracles in Catholic Church - Although they are to us, "miracles" to Almighty God are of course not extraordinary, for "With God, all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
Shown & explained here are of some of the thousands of great miracles that have occurred in, and through members of the Catholic Church.
However, as you may be aware, miracles can, and do occur through members of other Churches, primarily in the way of healings, although other forms of miracles also take place. All believers are aware that a solid faith and sincere prayers are the main ingredients that allow great and little miracles to happen in our daily lives.
Spiritual Advice - "Spiritual resources designed to offer prayer, encouragement, & personal support for those suffering from spiritual confusion, the loss of a loved one, a bad relationship, health problems, abuse, abandonment, a divorce, a physical or mental illness, suicidal tendencies, or from depression."
Testimonials - Some of the responses I have received from those who needed spiritual advice or just needed someone to listen while they shared their burdens.
TOPICS
* Difficult Trials and Sufferings
* Encouragement and Lessons of Christian Virtues
* An Army Is Needed To Help The "Poor In Spirit"
* God Is Love
* The Glory of Heaven
* We Need Christ In Our Lives
* Comfort for those who Mourn
* Possessed, Morally Corrupted, or Mentally Ill?
* A Poem for those who are Suffering
* Giving Thanks and Giving to Others
* Becoming More Like Jesus
* Random Acts of Kindness
* Christ is "The Way, The Truth, and The Life"
* "Voices"
* The Power Of Our Word
* Crying In My Heart
TOPICS
* After the Rain
* Measure Everything in Relation to Heaven
* A Dream We Can Believe In
* The Fear of Death
* Random Thoughts
* The Tragedy of Suicide (Sadness, Discouragement, and Depression)
* Remember When....
* Do you live in an Oasis or the Desert?
* Forgiveness
* Sometimes You Just Need Someone To Talk To
Spiritual State of Catholic Church - "Thou therefore gird up thy loins and arise, and speak to them all that I command thee. Be not afraid at their presence, for I will make thee not to fear their countenance....And they shall fight against thee and shall not prevail, for I am with thee saith the Lord, to deliver thee." (Jeremias 1:17,19). The Catholic Man - This is a spiritually beautiful letter that should be read by all Catholic men & their faimilies Worldly Diocese - Bishop Ricken of the Green Bay Diocese refuses to study and address the causes of these grave moral issues. You will find that many of these issues reflect the spiritual state of the average diocese in the USA and other nations of the West. Therefore this letter is just as timely today as the day it was written.
OTHER SPIRITUAL RESOURCES
Angels & Saints - A variety of information about great saints & the activity of angels. BISHOP'S CONFERENCES
CHURCH DOCUMENTS
VATICAN RESOURCES
Bride of Christ - WHEN GOD CALLS A WOMAN TO THE CONSECRATED LIFE - Mother Assumpta Long on Divine Courtship
Foreign Countries (Catholic Spirituality) - CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES - General Information - Australia - China - England & Wales - Italy - Papua New Guinea & Solumon Isands - Russia - Ukraine - United Kingdom Holy Priests? - IS THE AVERAGE PRIEST IN TODAY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH TRULY HOLY? - It is essential that for the good of the Church the clergy become more aware of the reasons why the laity have a right to expect that their priests are truly seeking holiness. Letters - I have received & written many letters over the years and I believe it would be beneficial to you if I shared some of them. You may not agree with all of the conclusions I have arrived at, but hopefully they will provide you with some "food for thought." Lukewarm Priests - Do you love the Church? Or are you among the lukewarm who defend those who create scandal in the Church? Catholic Messages USA.com contains letters and a booklet sent to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI that reveal the lukewarm spiritual state of today's Church in America and the West. Ministry & Life of Priests - "In order to be a good guide of his People, the priest must also be attentive to the signs of the times: those larger and deeper ones which concern the universal Church and Its sojourn in the history of man, and those which more closely affect the specific situation of a particular community." Motherhood - Choices About Child Rearing & Careers by Helen Alvare - How John Paul II Helped Women Understand Their Vocations
Pregnancy - INCLUDES RESOURCES FOR WOMEN & THE GREAT NEED FOR PRAYER - SPIRITUALITY FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS by AGNES PENNY - Pregnant Pause: Spirituality for Expectant Moms - Agnes Penny Pens a Guide to Help With the Joys and Trials Spiritual Inspirations - Some thoughts I felt inspired to write down. I hope to add to them from time to time. I also hope they will be of benefit to you and someone you love.
Transitory Things of This World - THE PRIEST, ST. JOSEPH CAFASSO TELLS US WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HOLY PRIEST and POPE JOHN PAUL II WRITES OF THE GOOD EXAMPLE SET BY ST. JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO
Vocations - SANCTITY IN MARRIAGE & THE SINGLE LIFE - A CALLING TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE Webmaster's Mission - It is part of my Mission to "awaken" our shepherds and their sheep as to the Lord's Word for today's Church, for the good of their souls and for the good of the Church from which all mankind benefits. Woman of God - THE JOY OF BEING A WOMAN OF GOD by RONDA CHERVIN - A Divine Plan for Happiness
SPECIAL REMINDER
*** Sacred Heart Picture - Receive beautiful and uplifting messages for your soul. (This category also contains a recap of all of the spiritual resources offered on this website).
PATRIOTIC RESOURCES
United States Military - NEWS - DEPARTMENTS - SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS - VETERANS INFO. - HISTORY & RESEARCH - BRANCHES OF SERVICE
SOCIAL RESOURCES
Art/Gifts/Music - CATHOLIC ART - BOOKS - CARDS - GIFTS - MUSIC - STORES - MUSEUMS Cancer Updates - Cancer treatments can be very expensive and complicated and I am not an expert on these matters. Therefore I cannot endorse every type of treatment. However, I believe it is very beneficial to present a variety of traditional and non-traditional treatments so that we are better able to make correct decisions regarding the various types of cancer treatments now available. Catholic & Non-Catholic Movie Reviews - Very few movies made today in Hollywood and elsewhere are pleasing to God. However, since most movie critics have become "accustomed" to many forms of immorality, they often view immoral portions of a film as "art" or as "necessary" elements that enhance the "quality" of the film. Education - Catholic & non-Catholic information Love & Marriage - Covers the problems & joys of married life, as well as divorce, mixed marriages & annulments.
THE U.S. ECONOMY & MANAGING YOUR MONEY
Employment Opportunities
Resumes
Consumer Guides & Protection
Budgeting
Economic Indicators
Stock Market
Prophecy for USA
MISCELLANEOUS
ADDITIONAL FEATURED NEWS STORIES
Dolan commented that most of the mail he gets accuses him of being too liberal... "I wish I could have been at that because I would have thanked them... because most of my mail is accusing me and the bishops of being too left-wing and too cozy with the Democrats, and too comfortable with the president..."
Commentary: What exactly, did Cardinal Dolan hope to accomplish from this interview? Who is he trying to appease? He simply states that he is being criticized from the "left" as well as from the "right." However, this is not unusual for anyone serving the public and/or the Church.
Also stated in this article is the following:
"Cardinal Dolan was criticized by many Catholics for inviting President Barack Obama to speak at the annual Al Smith Dinner, a Catholic charities fundraiser, held in New York City on Oct. 18 (2012). President Obama is a strong supporter of abortion and same-sex marriage, two positions contrary to fundamental Catholic moral teaching,"
That invitation was both scandalous, and disgraceful. Why would anyone who claims to follow "JESUS" invite a man like Obama to joke around with a political opponent? A man who believes you have "the right to kill" the unborn?
Millions and millions of innocent lives have been, and continue to be lost by the actions of Democrats like Obama. Why would the "dirty" money received from politicians exchanging jokes at a "traditional dinner" be more important than stongly admonishing President Obama and publicly telling him why he will not be invited?
Is giving your approval to murder a "funny" issue? Does murder mean anything to Cardinal Dolan? Apparently not!
The only conclusion any practicing Catholic can arrive at is that Cardinal Dolan is a spiritually weak man who speaks more like a politician than a bishop. How sad it is to find yet another bishop who does not live up to his vocation and the vows he made to Our Lord!
December 25, 2012
Vincent T. Bemowski
Editor, Catholic Messages USA.com
Also see:
Commentary: This is Cardinal Dolan's response to those who objected to him inviting President Obama to joke around at the Al Smith dinner.
First Cardinal Dolan "apologizes" to those who believe he caused scandal. But then, like the "politician" he is, he takes back his "apology" and attacks his critics moral credibility. To further excuse his reasoning and to justify himself, he then rather sarcastically compares himself to Our Lord!:
"In the end, I’m encouraged by the example of Jesus, who was blistered by his critics for dining with those some considered sinners; and by the recognition that, if I only sat down with people who agreed with me, and I with them, or with those who were saints, I’d be taking all my meals alone."
However, there is a huge difference between what Our Lord did and what Cardinal Dolan did. JESUS never sat down to "entertain" or joke around with Heads of State like King Herold, a "sinner" who, like Obama, approved of murder! vtb
And see:
FEATURED WORLD NEWS BRIEFS
With added commentary by Vincent T. Bemowski - Webmaster/Editor
IS ISLAM THE RELIGION OF PEACE? - "I knew right then that there are not as many 'moderate Muslims' as myself and (as) most people thought. I decided that day that I would be changing the focus of my ministry and dedicating my life to studying Islam and telling others about it’s dangers. I started this blog on Islam and I plan on doing counter-jihad work until I die.'" Commentary: This is an excellent website to learn more about the Islamic religion. vtb
Ignore 'prophets of doom' predicting end of religious life, pope says - "'Do not join the prophets of doom who proclaim the end or the lack of meaning of consecrated life in today's church; rather clothe yourselves with Jesus Christ and put on the armor of light ... remaining awake and vigilant,' Pope Benedict told consecrated virgins and men and women who belong to religious orders." Commentary: The main reason for the lack of interest in joining a religious order is of course, the lack of faith that exists within today's Church. vtb
Commentary: Our bishops are finally beginning to open their eyes and say things they should have said in the months preceeding the 2008 presidential election. vtb
Becoming Obama - "When Barack Obama met Genevieve Cook in 1983 at a Christmas party in New York’s East Village, it was the start of his most serious romance yet. But as the 22-year-old Columbia grad began to shape his future, he was also struggling with his identity: American or international? Black or white? Drawing on conversations with both Cook and the president, David Maraniss, in an adaptation from his new Obama biography, has the untold story of the couple’s time together."
Commentary: This biography gives you a glimpse of the true character of President Obama. He is very shallow and ignorant concerning spiritual things and the Holy Bible. He lived with a woman in what appears to be a sexual relationship without any guilt or remorse, although it was very sinful. He had no interest is serving in the Armed Forces for that would involve a personal sacrifice. His main interest in life is his desire to obtain a "name" for himself and to pursue his own selfish goals, without concern for the moral implications. And because of his great pride, he hates to be corrected and believes he always knows best. vtb
Bishop John D’Arcy, Who Sounded Alarm on Sex Abuse, Dies at 80 - "In one of his bluntest letters, Bishop D’Arcy asked the newly appointed archbishop of Boston, Bernard F. Law, to rescind the appointment of the Rev. John J. Geoghan as pastor of a parish in Weston, Mass. 'Father Geoghan has a history of homosexual activity with young boys,' Bishop D’Arcy wrote to the archbishop on Dec. 7, 1984."
Commentary: This is also a clear warning that the guilty are homosexuals in the vast majority of cases of sexual abuse involving minors. Whether they are priests, ministers, or laypeople, it is the homosexuals who are committing these crimes and this is what the press & the public should be centering on. vtb
What singles want: Nice teeth, but no virgins - "Among the findings:
• 38 percent would cancel a date because of something they found while doing online research on their date.
• 42 percent would not date a virgin.
• 65 percent would not date someone with credit card debt greater than $5,000; 54 percent would not date someone with substantial student loan debt.
• 49 percent would consider getting into a committed relationship with someone who lived at home with parents.
Commentary: Single men who would not date a "virgin" are not worthy of that woman. In addition, unless they want to be known as "feminine," men should not consider themselves a "virgin" simply because they abstain from sex. Only women who have not had sexual relations are called "virgins" in the Holy Bible. A single man who has not engaged in sexual activity before marriage is properly called "chaste." vtb
Judge's sentence sends message to drug dealers - "Judge Gritton sentenced Van Dyke to 15 years in prison followed by five years of extended supervision Friday for a first-degree reckless homicide conviction. Van Dyke was convicted in connection to the April 14, 2011, death of 25-year-old Cole Trittin, who was found dead at a residence in the Town of Poygan after he purchased heroin from Van Dyke. Trittin was one of 24 people in Winnebago County who died of a drug overdose in 2011.
Commentary: This type of justice is long overdue and should be carried out by judges across the United States and other parts of the world. vtb Immigration's latest ally: Christian right - "'This is basically an answered prayer,' said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the activity. 'The conversation has finally evolved where deportation is no longer part of the immigration lexicon. It is now about legalization.'”
Commentry: Conservative republicans need to pay closer attention to the needs the Litino population and not take actions against their Litino "brothers" that result in the loss of their votes. vtb
Study: 22 Military Veterans Commit Suicide Every Day - "'A majority of Veteran suicides are among those age 50 years and older. Male Veterans who die by suicide are older than non-Veteran males who die by suicide,' the study’s findings stated. 'The age distribution of Veteran and non-Veteran women who have died from suicide is similar.'”
Commentary: Although it would not eliminate, it would certainly help if these veterans knew our so-called "Commander-in Chief" really cared about them. Obama only went to Iraq once, and apparently does not like being photographed with members of the Armed Forces. This is most likely because they realy don't like him, as the majority are conservative and republicans. vtb
Bishops Reject Birth Control Compromise - "The (Obama) administration’s proposal maintains its inaccurate distinction among religious ministries,' said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops." 'It appears to offer second-class status to our first-class institutions in Catholic health care, Catholic education and Catholic charities. The Department of Health and Human Services offers what it calls an ‘accommodation,’ rather than accepting the fact that these ministries are integral to our church and worthy of the same exemption as our Catholic churches.'”
Commentary: A typical loose response from President Obama. While he claims to represent all citizens, his real intention is to please himself and continue to carry out his mentally unbalanced views on life and religion. vtb
Commentary: First of all, there is no "German Catholic Church." There exists only the Catholic Church. Second, Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne is not "an ally of German-born Pope Benedict." He, like any other Cardinal is under obedience to the Holy Father and must obey all Church laws and teachings. And third, it is very wrong and scandalous to make public an opinion that is contrary to what the Church teaches. We should therefore wait for officials within the Vatican to define the morality of this issue. And that decision will not be a worldly one like Cardinal Meisner's, but will conform to the teachings of the Church. vtb
Immigration Is a Natural Right - "Having received freedom from our Creator and, in America, thanks to the values embraced by most of the Founding Fathers, individuals are sovereign with respect to our natural rights. St. Thomas Aquinas taught that our sovereignty is a part of our human nature, and our humanity is a gift from God. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson himself recognized personal sovereignty in the Declaration of Independence when he wrote about Nature's God as the Creator and thus the originator of our inalienable human rights."
Commentary: There has to be a more humane manner of dealing with "illegal" immigrants. Rather than deport them or throw them in jail, we need to show more mercy and understanding. They come here because they seek a better life and to escape the corruption and poverty that exists in Mexico. Can we blame them? Our ancestors did the same thing when they left England because of religious persecution. In a sense, because American Indians were here first, they essentially "owned" this land, therefore our ancestors were also illegal immigrants. vtb
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Opposes Probe of 491 Babies Left to Die After Abortions - "Our request has to do with enforcement of existing Canadian law — a viable baby BORN ALIVE, who then subsequently dies due to injuries caused prior to or during birth. If that is what happened in these 491 cases, then that breaks Canadian law."
Commentary: This corrupt politician, and others who share his beliefs, should be thrown out of office. What a disgrace they are to the human race! vtb Catholic church releases sexual abuse files, relieves Cardinal Mahony of duties - "'I find these files to be brutal and painful reading,' Archbishop Jose Gomez said in a statement, referring to the documents made public by the church Thursday night. 'The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children.' Gomez said that he has 'informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties.'"
Commentary: Sadly, the liberal Cardinal Mahony never had the reputation of being a truly good man. At long last, his arrogance and the scandal he created has caught up with him, and now his true moral state can be clearly seen by those he claimed to "serve." vtb
Crowd of gay activists demonstrate outside Italian archbishop’s house - "His offence was having publicly defended the Catholic Church’s teaching on the nature of marriage in the diocesan newspaper. He said the purpose of the demonstration, a display of political power, was to define any opposition to the political agenda as 'homophobia' and a criminal offence."
Commentary: All these so-called "gay" activists have to do is read the Holy Bible for the Lord's Word on this subject. However, this they (and misguided people like President Obama) will not do because it would distrub their conscience, that is, if they still have one. vtb
Couple sees Virgin Mary in their firewood - "Rebecca Archer and her husband were doing some tree trimming outside their Northeast Albuquerque home when they found what they say is an image of the Virgin Mary inside one of the tree limbs. 'I see a picture of Mother Mary. No mistake!' Archer said. She believes the image is complete with a halo, veil and a well known image of the sacred heart."
Commentary: I don't know if this is true or not, but we are witnessing many signs and wonders in these "last days," so it certainly is believeable. vtb
Celibacy and the Priesthood - "In another question Jerumanis dealt with the accusation that celibacy is a causal factor in sexual abuse. It would be rash to come to this conclusion, he affirmed, just as it would be rash to conclude that marital crises are due to the requirement that marriage be indissoluble. Another contributor noted that no one would blame the institution of marriage as being responsible for a parent sexually abusing their child. He also observed that sexual abuse is just as prevalent in churches that have married clergy and that by far the largest number of cases of sexual abuse occurs in the immediate family." Column from Fr. Rutler - January 27, 2013 - "Our current President (Obama) recently announced that he will disobey a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act, signed by his own hand, which states that chaplains cannot be forced 'to perform any rite, ritual or ceremony that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles or religious beliefs of the chaplain.' The nineteenth-century French political philosopher Frédéric Bastiat warned: 'When misguided public opinion honors what is despicable and despises what is honorable, punishes virtue and rewards vice, encourages what is harmful and discourages what is useful, applauds falsehood and smothers truth under indifference or insult, a nation turns its back on progress and can be restored only by the terrible lessons of catastrophe.”
Commentary: Another display of Obama's anti-Christian beliefs. However, this time it may backfire because freedom of religion is a "right" that overpowers any decision of this type, especially when made by a misguided, morally corrupt President. vtb
Catholic Hospital: Fetus not legally a person - "The lawsuit was filed after Lori Stodghill and the 7-month-old fetuses she was carrying died in the hospital's emergency room. Attorneys for her husband are urging the Colorado Supreme Court to take the case."
Commentary: It is not a logical approach to insist that a "being" be a "person" as defined by some judge or court. It is a scientific fact that when a "being" exists in the womb, that "being" is human and therefore should be defined as a "human being," no matter what the stage of development. We are all "created equal" and not born equal. Why is this so difficult to understand? Where has reason gone in our society? We will only find it again when we again find God in all that we do as individuals, and as a country. vtb
Vatican preparing guide for priests on how to celebrate Mass more reverently - "The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments criticized existing abuses such as showmanship, and praised moments of silence 'that are action,' which enable the priest and the faithful to talk with Jesus Christ and which exclude the predominance of words that often becomes showmanship on the part of the priest. The correct attitude is the one 'indicated by Saint John the Baptist, when he says he must decrease and the Messiah must increase.'”
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THE FOLLOWING WILL ALSO REMAIN A FEATURED STORY UNTIL THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE WEST ARE AWARE OF THE DANGERS THAT THE RELIGION OF ISLAM PRESENTS TO PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD:
Islam’s Rise and the West’s Denial - "Islam is not a religion of peace, but a religion of conquest that aims to subjugate non-Muslims. This isn’t just a theory. Look at every nation where Muslims rule and you will find that non-Muslims are assigned an inferior status. In studying Islam, Christians will also find that the Jesus of the Koran is nothing at all like the Jesus of the Gospels. In fact, he seems to have been introduced into the Koran for the sole purpose of contradicting the Christian belief in Jesus as the son of God....
Christians must realize that Islam is a political religion, and they need to be aware that religious overtures on the part of Muslims are often nothing other than political maneuvering. For example, Christians should avoid being pulled into Islam’s anti-blasphemy/anti-defamation campaign, because the ultimate goal of this campaign is to criminalize criticism of Islam. And, by the way, simply to assert the divinity of Christ is a blasphemy of the highest order according to the Koran."
Commentary: William Kilpatrick's book: Christianity, Islam, and Atheism - The Struggle for the Soul of the West, should be read by every politician and every other person of authority, in addition to a significant portion of the general public. This is an extremely important, well researched book that should be of benefit to many, many people. We must pray that it is successful and it's truths are taken seriously.
Vincent T. Bemowski
Editor, Catholic Messages USA.com
Also see:
Militant Muslims Cutting Out Tongues - "Why so much violence against the tongue? For the same reason that Dr. Badr would rather see the whole world set on fire than Islam insulted: the tongue—which utters words and free speech—is fundamental to exposing and combating the things of Islam, whether formal, Sharia law or whether the violent, supremacist culture born of it."
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MORE ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY BY VINCENT T. BEMOWSKI ON PAST & PRESENT POPULAR & CONTROVERSIAL NEWS STORIES
At Installation, Bishop Conley Says Holiness Is Key to Church Flourishing - “My brother bishops, there is nothing more important for a bishop than the care of souls,” he said in his Nov. 20 homily. “If the Church is to flourish in the world today, if the New Evangelization is to really take root, if we are to truly build a culture of life, holiness must begin with us.”
Commentary: Bishop Conley says it all. Holiness is truly lacking in the priesthood. You cannot be a jokester, or an overweight "celebrity," or simply a "Master of Ceremonies" at Mass and consider yourself spiritually fit to lead your flock. Holiness is the key to the renewal of the Church, and that renewal must start with our bishops. vtb
Also see:
The group - which has since closed its office and shifted its presence to the internet - was criticized by numerous bishops for causing confusion about the priority of moral issues by downplaying the importance of fundamental concerns like abortion, while giving heavy weight to issues such as the environment.
(Alexia) Kelly was a religious advisor for the 2004 presidential campaign of Catholic senator John Kerry, whose support for abortion raised controversy.
She also advocated heavily for the confirmation of pro-abortion Catholic Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition to her steadfast support for abortion, Sebelius is controversial for her key role in issuing the federal contraception mandate that requires employers - including religious schools, hospitals and charitable organizations - to offer health insurance plans covering contraception, sterilization and drugs that can cause an early abortion."
Commentary: More scandal created by lukewarm members of the Church! What a disgrace! You cannot truthfully call yourself a "practicing Catholic" if you promote abortion!
The following memorandum was sent by Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) to Cardinal McCarrick, and was made public in the first week of July 2004:
"There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia."
The book Ms. Kelley co-authored: A Nation For All speaks of "progressives" in today's Church as workers for the "common good," but in truth they are simply hyprocrites of the highest order, or modern day pagans, because lacking in faith, they "worship" their intellect first and place it above a sincere and true relationship with Almighty God. vtb
Ms. Kelley also worked for The Catholic Campaign for Human Development. See:
Obama’s Post-Family America - "The Democratic Party is the post-family party. Its base consists of groups of lost people trying to find some identity in an increasingly estranged country. The Democratic Party understands the state of fractured America and how it can be exploited, because it did much of the fracturing. Destroying the support structure of the family paved the way for destroying the support structure of America. Obama, with his complicated background and his third culture dislocation leading to a self-created identity, is the perfect figurehead for a broken family party that is as foreign to itself as it is to us."
Commentary: We should not blame all of our moral difficulties on a political party. Immorality in the Democratic Party is only one of the resulting effects of the grave sins being committed by large numbers of people in the United States and throughout the world. It is our Churches and the lack of spiritual direction by our "sheperds" (who have failed to go after the "lost sheep"), that are the primary cause of our moral decline.
While the Catholic Church has been blessed with many spiritually sound, saintly Popes, many bishops and priests have not strived to become truly holy. But rather, they have become the cause of great scandal by their poor example. We are not simply speaking of the sexual abuse scandals, but also of their hypocrisy, the failure to keep holy the Lord's Day, and their failure to preach the Gospels under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. vtb
America Commits Suicide - "Those who voted for Obama were content to believe the cascade of lies Obama told. They ignored the President’s record of failure—the failed “stimulus” that was nothing more than a political slush fund, Obamacare that was forced on the nation by a straight party vote by Democrats in Congress, the bankruptcy of the “clean energy” companies that could not compete even with public funding, and the eruption of Islamic frenzy that saw him abandon friend and foe alike in the Middle East."
Bishop: Catholic Church Will Defy Obama Abortion-HHS Mandate - The USCCB bulletin insert quoted the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in which Dr. King writes, “I would agree with Saint Augustine that ‘An unjust law is no law at all.’… A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.”
The Catholic bishops also note in the document, “Some unjust laws impose such injustices on individuals and organizations that disobeying the laws may be justified. Every effort must be made to repeal them. When fundamental human goods, such as the right of conscience, are at stake, we may need to witness to the truth by resisting the law and incurring its penalties.”
Commentary: One of the foolish and unjust laws put in place by the Obama/Biden administration (with the help of other morally corrupt Democrats), is now being challenged by the Church. It is almost certain that Obama will seek a compromise, or perhaps the Supreme Court will become involved again. We will be watching and praying for a good outcome. vtb
Four years later, Vatican takes a different approach toward Obama - "From the beginning of Obama's presidency, his support for legalized abortion and embryonic stem-cell research inspired protests by the church and controversy within it. Some 80 U.S. bishops publicly criticized the University of Notre Dame for granting Obama an honorary degree in 2009.
Yet the Vatican itself remained largely aloof from such disputes, at least in public statements, and cooperated with the Obama administration on such common international goals as assisting migrants, working against human trafficking and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
But seeing a threat to the freedom of the Church itself, the Vatican changed its approach and chose to address matters more directly.
In January, (2012) Pope Benedict told a group of visiting U.S. bishops that he was concerned about "certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion," through "concerted efforts ... to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices."
Commentary: Although Vatican officials and the Pope himself were aware of Obama's lack of moral credentials before the 2008 Presidential election, they apparently thought it best to use a more "silent" approach. Therefore, working quietly through diplomatic means and prayer, it was thought more "progress" could be made in changing President Obama's mind regarding his disagreement with Church teachings.
However, seeing that this approach did not work, a more vocal approach is now being used. We must continue to pray that Obama and his followers are put to shame and have a change of heart. Unfortunately, for this to happen, the Church must change from within, and this is going to be very, very difficult because of the spiritually lukewarm state of so many bishops, priests, and laypeople. vtb
Despite HHS mandate, Catholic voters narrowly favor Obama over Romney - "Despite the Obama administration’s attacks on freedom of religion, and Obama’s support for abortion, embryonic stem cell research and gay “marriage,” the president still took home exactly half of the Catholic vote, slightly ahead of Romney’s 48%... The CNN poll did not distinguish between practicing and lapsed Catholics. However, a Fox News exit poll did, finding that Catholics who attended mass weekly favored Romney over Obama 57 to 42 percent."
Commentary: The above information again confirms that the vast majority of members in today's Church continue to remain spiritually lukewarm. See category: Spiritual State of Catholic Church. (This is an internal link, you must backspace to return to this section of this page) vtb
Misreading of Vatican II dampened missionary zeal, theologian says - "(Ralph) Martin attributed the loss of Catholic missionary zeal to a widespread misunderstanding of some of Vatican II's most distinctive teachings... many Catholics were confused by the council's laudable emphasis on ecumenism and interreligious dialogue into thinking that "maybe it doesn't matter anymore whether people are Christians or not."
Commentary: While it is true that many Catholics became "confused" by the "teachings" of Vatican II, that was not the fault of the average Catholic. Most likely, only about 5% or less of Catholic laypeople even read the documents of Vatican II. So who is really to blame? Our bishops and our priests!
It was by their example that a spirit of liberalism took hold within the Church. It was they who "misunderstood" the teachings of Vatican II, and it is they who continue to pass on, by word and example, those misunderstandings to laypeople. Mr. Martin may have had good intentions, but he should have been more specific as to where the true blame lies. vtb
There are “many positive and beneficial planks” in the Democratic Party platform, the bishop said, but some promote “serious sins.”
In 2008, he noted, the platform dropped its call for abortion to be “safe, legal and rare” in favor of the language “safe and legal.” It now supports abortion “regardless of the ability to pay.” He said this means either taxpayer funding for abortion, mandatory insurance coverage, or coercion of hospitals to perform the procedures for free.
Bishop Paprocki added that the Democrats’ national platform supports “same-sex marriage,” deems gay rights to be “human rights” and calls for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act which defines marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman in federal law.
The bishop noted the existence of Republicans who support legalized abortion and others who support “same-sex marriage.” He said they are “equally as wrong as their Democratic counterparts” but their positions do not have official party support.
Bishop Paprocki also examined the Republican Party platform and found that it has “nothing in it that supports or promotes an intrinsic evil or a serious sin.”
Commentary: Bishop Paprocki explains why the Catholic Church condemns the Democratic Party's Platform and why Catholics should not vote for Obama. This man of God tells it like it is! vtb
"Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment.
There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia."
Commentary: Without question, His Holiness would now include those "Catholics" who approve of gay marriage, and/or vote for polticians who approve of gay marriage to be unworthy of receiving Holy Communion. vtb
Commentary: Are people living in other parts of the United States closer to God? Have they done penance for their sins? Are our bishops aware of these sins and requesting we do penance?:
"And there were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he (Jesus) answering, said to them: Think you that these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they suffered such things? No, I say to you; but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.
Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them; think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:1-5). vtb
Father of Slain SEAL: Who Made the Decision Not to Save My Son? - When [Obama] came over to our little area at Andrew Air Force Base, says Woods, “he kind of just mumbled, you know, ‘I’m sorry.’ His face was looking at me, but his eyes were looking over my shoulder like he could not look me in the eye. And it was not a sincere, ‘I’m really sorry, you know, that your son died,’ but it was totally insincere, more of whining type, ‘I’m sorry.’”
Woods says that shaking President Obama’s hands at his son’s memorial service was “like shaking hands with a dead fish.”
Commentary: Obama is a "master showman" or more accurately, a "master show-off man." In public he can "turn it on" for his "audience," but in private, he comes across as shallow and cold. His frequent undignified appearances on liberal TV programs confirms he is not fit to lead and does not deserve to be re-elected. vtb
Commentary: Headlines like: "Poll finds majority in US hold racist views" are very misleading and do not reveal the truth. Although there are many good Black people, it is a sad fact that African Americans commit many more crimes than Caucasians, and the bigotry among Blacks is being ignored by the mainstream media. Prayer is needed by the Black population in the United States so they may be better able to see the fear and mistrust they often provoke among Whites. vtb
Also see:
• "Of the nearly 770,000 violent interracial crimes committed every year involving blacks and whites, blacks commit 85 percent and whites commit 15 percent.
• Blacks commit more violent crime against whites than against blacks. Fortyfive percent of their victims are white, 43 percent are black, and 10 percent are Hispanic. When whites commit violent crime, only three percent of their victims are black.
• Blacks are an estimated 39 times more likely to commit a violent crime against a white than vice versa, and 136 times more likely to commit robbery.
• Blacks are 2.25 times more likely to commit officially-designated hate crimes against whites than vice versa."
The Color of Crime
Second, Expanded Edition
Copyright © 2005
New Century Foundation
Oakton, VA 22124
Iraq War ends on Bush’s schedule, not Obama’s - "All U.S. troops, except for 159 uniformed troops and officers as well as a marine guard in the US embassy in Baghdad, will be out of Iraq before December 31, 2011, as required by the Status of Forces Agreement President Bush made with Iraq."
Mother Of Fallen SEAL Rebukes Obama, Clinton - "Karen Vaughn, mother of fallen Navy Seal of Aaron Carson Vaughn, reacts to Barack Obama's campaign ad 'One Chance.' Karen and Billy Vaughn lost their son Aaron last year (2011) in Afghanistan."
Commentary: Since this film has created a tremendous amount of controversy throughout the world, it is only fair that you be given the opportunity to judge for yourself the truth of the comments made by usama dakdok. vtb
Obama's Empty Words (Videos) - Danish TV Host Mocks Obama's empty words.
Commentary: More proof that President Obama is a cold-hearted, insincere man without a conscience, and is not worthy to represent the United States in any capacity. vtb
Commentary: In reference to religion, going against the Constitution does not bother many Democrats (including President Obama), because they follow the teachings of the world, rather than the teachings of Christ. Therefore they possess little knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and often mis-quote even the few verses they are aware of. So it is not surprising that they also fail to understand the intentions behind the many parts of the Constitution that pertain to religion and the Bible. The makers of the Constitution were religious men who were Christians and they had a large measure of wisdom. Unfortunately, in today's world, true followers of Christ are becoming very rare. vtb
See:
CHRISTIANITY: THE MOST PERSECUTED WORLD FAITH - "Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name"(Mt 24:9). "Widespread human rights abuses in communist China, where millions of underground Christians -- including Catholics loyal to the pope -- face constant persecution, has also drawn the ire of the international community...Another factor behind the increase in persecution of Christians is the increased militancy of Muslims in the Islamic belt, from Morocco eastward to the southern Philippines...
A Muslim's Remarkable Conversion to Catholicism - "The fascinating autobiography of Muhammad Moussaoui, who narrates his conversion from Islam to Catholicism, shows miracles of grace and of human correspondence, on the one hand, and on the other hand the terrible harshness of Islamic mentality and persecution of Christians. The book’s title, 'The Price to Pay,' summarizes well what this elite soul had to go through in order to be faithful to the call of grace."
Commentary: The testimony given in this book is very powerful and there is little anyone can add to it. Although there are many good, peace loving Muslims, there is also a radical element that casts a dark shadow on the manner in which some Muslims interpret the Koran (Quran) and practice their Islamic beliefs. This "radical element" causes us to ask ourselves: Is their religion beneficial to all of society or dangerous to anyone who chooses to practice another Faith? vtb
Also see:
Muslim mob burns Christian man - "Section 295-C of Pakistan’s code says, “Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to a fine.”
Section 298-A includes penalties for anyone who says or writes anything against Muhammad’s family members, associates or successors. In the recent attack, a Rawalpindi Muslim mob, including Pakistani police officers, tried to force Arshed Masih to renounce his Christian faith and convert to Islam. Masih refused their demand and was burned to death."
Poll: America's Most Trusted TV News Source Is...Fox News - "Fox is the most trusted TV news source for 34% of voters, followed by PBS at 17%, CNN at 12%, ABC News at 11%, CBS News at 8%, MSNBC at 5%, and Comedy Central and NBC each at 4%. Sixty-eight percent of Republicans pick Fox as their most trusted source, with no one else even hitting double digits. Democrats split closely three ways with PBS at 21%, ABC News at 19%, and CNN at 17%. Despite having a reputation for appealing to the left MSNBC actually polls in only 6th place among Democrats at 8%, finishing slightly behind even Fox News' 9%. Independents split almost evenly between Fox News (29%) and PBS (27%)."
Commentary: Fox News is not a truly conservative news outlet. Their TV news & commentaries only appear to be "conservative" due to the competition which is overwhelmingly liberal and biased. Although Fox News Channel does present some interesting news stories that lean towards a conservative point of view, their programs also contain worldly & immoral opinions that often go unchallenged. Their website also contains news stories, features, and advertisements that are more worldly rather than spiritual. vtb
"He who rebels against the Church is a rotten member, and what is done to His Vicar on earth, (the Pope) be it reverence or insult, is done to God in heaven. Think not that God is sleeping over the injuries that have been done to His Spouse" (the Church).---St. Catherine of Siena
The pope should stand trial - "Why is anyone surprised when Christopher Hitchens and I call for the prosecution of the pope? There is a clear case to answer."
Commentary: There are basically two extreme viewpoints regarding the accusations that the Pope (when he was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith), refused to "punish" a certain priest in the Church who was accused, and then proven to sexually abuse a large number of children.
On the one side are those who take pleasure in attacking the spiritual credentials of the Holy Father. This case presents an "ideal" opportunity for them to express their dislike for the Catholic Church. When examining their motives, you can easily see that it is the Church Herself that they object to, and not just a decision made by Pope Benedict XVI (when he was known as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger). Therefore they delight in using ridicule and slander to convince others that they speak the "truth." However, although truth is found in the Holy Bible, because it makes them feel guilty, they strongly disapprove of the use of the Sacred Scriptures by those who oppose their point of view.
On the other extreme side of this issue are those who in a self-righteous manner, without a proper study of this case, who quickly dismiss the accusations of those who find fault in the Pontiff's decision and declare them to be "bigots." Although they may claim to be "defenders" of the Church, because they lack compassion for the victims of sexual abuse, they do far more harm to the reputation of the Church than they do good.
What is the truth? The truth lies in our conscience, and it is not governed by our emotions, or any guilt, hatred, or erroneous prejudicial teachings originating from our childhood. Only when we come to accept that "Truth," will we be truly free of the things that blind us and prevent us from seeing the truth:
"Then JESUS said to those Jews, who believed him: 'If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' They answered him: 'We are the seed of Abraham, and we have never been slaves to any man; how sayest thou: "you shall be free?"' JESUS answered them: 'Amen, amen I say unto you: that whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. Now the servant abideth not in the house forever; but the son abideth forever. If therefore the son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed'" (John 8: 31-36).
Now we know that it is not justice when the innocent are forced to "prove" their innocence. It is only just when clear and solid evidence convicts a person and finds him or her truly guilty of a crime. For the accused person must be proven guilty, and should not have to prove himself innocent in a "court" of public opinion that is dominated by gossip.
However, if our soul is not free from grave sin or we do not have faith in God, we will lack the Gift of Understanding, and we will not be a just judge of the person being accused of a crime. We will be guided, not by the Holy Spirit, but by our desire for vengeance - a temptation brought on by the devil. Therefore we will fail to understand the intentions of the accused, and through the deadly sin of pride, wish that the severest possible penalty be given to him.
Where do we find the truth? The only "just" answer is found in following the teachings of JESUS, who has revealed:
"I am the way, and the TRUTH, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Although we must always have compassion for the victims of sexual abuse, the evidence clearly shows Pope Benedict XVI to be innocent. While some are simply misguided, many of his accusers are not aware of all of the facts involved in this case.
Unfortunately, many others, because of their pride, are without question, guilty of ridicule, vengeance, and slander - not only against the Supreme Pontiff, but against the whole Church. vtb
Also see:
Report and comment: "Pope had 'tears in his eyes' as he met with Maltese victims - "One of the eight victims of sexual abuse who met Pope Benedict XVI today in Malta described the encounter as 'very emotional,' saying most of those present were crying, and even the pope had "tears in his eyes." 'I made peace with the church,' said Joseph Magro, one of the victims who met the pope... This was Pope Benedict’s third meeting with victims, after previous encounters in the United States in April 2008 and Australia later that same year."
Sexual Abuse in Social Context: Catholic Clergy and other Professionals - "Special Report by Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights - February 2004... the incidence of the sexual abuse of a minor is slightly higher among the Protestant clergy than among the Catholic clergy... it is significantly higher among public school teachers than among ministers and priests."
Commentaries & Studies by Vincent T. Bemowski dealing with Spirituality, US Politics & World Affairs
WHY ROMNEY LOST
Nov. 7, 2012
Mitt Romney is a good man, with a far better sense of morality than Barrack Obama. However, he was a victim of the Republican Party's foolish strategy.
First, they took too strong of a stand against what they call "illegal immigration." This, of course, did not sit well with the millions of Latinos who came to the United States (many at the risk of great danger) to escape the poverty and corruption that exists in many parts of Mexico. This was a grave error in judgment on the part of the Republican Party's leaders..
Next, they did not come out very strong against the killing that takes place through deliberate abortions. To kill an innocent unborn, or partially born human being is murder, plain and simple. However, to pacify millions of women who favor this type of brutal killing, the Republican Party basically ignored this moral issue.
They also (for fear of retaliation) did not take a very strong stand against morally sick "gay marriages."
But one of the most important blunders made by the Republicans and Mr. Romney was the fact that they did not expose Obama's lack of moral credentials. His morally twisted interpretation of the Holy Bible and his spiritually shallow manner of addressing grave moral issues should have been at the forefront of their attack plan. Instead, in his concession speech, Romney called the morally corrupt Obama "a good man."
They also did not expose the hypocrisy of Joe Biden, who claims to be a Roman Catholic, but does not truly practice his faith or live by the teachings of the Church.
Obama and other Democrats are at their weakest when it comes to explaining moral issues, and that is where you have to "attack" them if you wish to be elected to a political office. vtb
THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO BECOME A NATION OF EVILDOERS
[21] "Because that, when they knew God (knew of His mercy & great love), they have not glorified him as God, or given thanks; but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
[23] And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of the image of a corruptible man, and of birds, and of four footed beasts, and of creeping things (worshiping the works of man and placing men & women before God). [24] Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves. [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie; and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[26] For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women (practicing lesbians) have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature . [27] And, in like manner, the men (practicing homosexual gays) also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error.
[28] And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, (this includes other evil doers) God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, [30] Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
[26] God delivered them up: Not by being author of their sins, but by withdrawing his grace, and so permitting them, in punishment of their pride, to fall into those shameful sins. [31] Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy.
[32] Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death (Hell); and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them" (those that give their approval to people that do evil in the sight of Almighty God). Romans 1:21-32. vtb
OBAMA APPROVES OF MURDER!
President Obama and other dysfunctional Democrats (including people who speak for Planned Parenthood, ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC, PBS, The New York Times, and other liberal news and "pro-abortion & pro-choice" organizations) never finish the sentence when speaking of "women's rights." The "right" to do what? Terminate a pregnancy? And what happens when you terminate a pregnancy? You kill a HUMAN BEING!
It is a scientific fact that when a "being" exists in the womb, it is HUMAN, no matter what the stage of development. Therefore Obama and his followers are guilty of approving of the "right to kill" another human being or approving of murder! vtb
See:
"Know also this, that, in the last days, shall come dangerous times. Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, Without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness, Traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasures more than of God: Having an appearance indeed of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Now these avoid."
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Added Note: It is also best to not contribute any money to PBS until they edit their movies and take out all bad language and cuss words. And until they stop pushing "gay rights" and "abortion rights." Their programing many times lacks moral content and ignores the Word of Almight God, but instead presents foolish opinions & "theories" as if they were facts. vtb
Also see:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
(Note that the above states that we are all created equal, and not born equal).
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