Did Obama lie?

Did Obama lie to the American people about NAFTA? CTV stands by its story. It’s interesting how Canada has made it into the U.S. pre-election campaign with all this talk of whether they would try and renegotiate the deal.  I think many U.S. citizens didn’t even know that NAFTA included this country. I guess we have all focused on further south. Some of our jobs went south to the U.S. and Mexico and so have theirs.

The issues at hand are not just political and economic, they are also moral. What kind of society do we want to build? What kind of jobs do we want for our economy? How do we balance profit with decent wages, social programmes and universal health care.  The only other time Canada makes it into the conversation is when they want to assail our healthcare system. I’ve lived in the U.S. and I can tell you that I prefer our system. It’s sometimes slow, and it doesn’t always rely on the latest technology, but it is good and professional and universal.

It doesn’t help matters when politicians stoke the xenophobia of people and get them all worked up because they think someone is trying to take their job. It’s horrible if they do that, and at the same time claim, it’s only an election ploy. 

NAFTA is not perfect, but it is a direction in which this world is moving. The goal should not be to lower ourselves to the lowest common denominator of wages and benefits and healthcare, but rather to raise the standard of living for everyone.

Friars relaunch Franciscans.org website

Mount St. Francis , Indiana , February 29, 2008: Today, the Conventual Franciscan Friars re-launched their North American website, www.franciscans.org. This new communications ministry and outreach was begun in January 2006 and has since developed a large daily following, in the Catholic Community and beyond. In an effort to further the growth of this Franciscan online community the Friars have refreshed the site and added some important new content and features.  franciscans.org and the ‘Join the BrotherHood’ initiative continue to be an invitation to explore Franciscan life and spirituality. The invitation is open to everyone but is specifically designed for Catholic men and women looking to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church through St. Francis of Assisi and Franciscan community life and service.

Vocation exploration, support and conversation are the hallmarks of this exciting online ministry. However at its core the initiative is about storytelling and using video and multimedia forms to engage a younger audience. New content features include: a blog written by Vocation Director, Friar Michael Lorentsen, OFM Conv. on his ministry and the discernment process; sections of the site that organize specific information on Vocations, Franciscan World Missions and Environmental action; increased Spanish language content; a new design and improved interface; upgraded video streaming presentation and player. Our daily and weekly Podcasting Ministry continues to offer thought provoking and informative reflections on scripture and Catholic issues. As well, The St. Francis Market e-store is a unique place to find all things Franciscan. It provides ongoing financial support for this online ministry and Friars in formation.   

The Conventual Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) is an international order of Catholic men, priests and brothers, living in community and serving the faithful and the poor according to the Rule of 1223 written by St Francis of Assisi. The Friars have served the North American Catholic community through multiple ministries since the mid 1800’s. If you would like to learn more about the ‘Join the BrotherHood’ and franciscans.org  please contact Michael Ryan at 416-450-7636 or communications@franciscans.org. 

Catholics on YouTube

Here’s an example of what’s on YouTube from Catholics who are trying to spread the Good News. I found this one particularily good… why we sit, stand and kneel at mass. It’s funny, wise and helpful. Check out That Catholic Show.

Frustrated in Ministry

Our parish, which has many young families and children, hosted a workshop on parenting by Syd & Ellen Kessler, authors of the book: The Perfect System of Parenting. We advertised this workshop in our parish bulletin, in the Sunday announcements at Mass, on our website, all for the last 5 weeks. We also had the workshop on the Archdiocesan website and in the bulletins of the other local parishes. Finally, a flyer about the event was sent home with the over 400 children in our local Catholic school. Now guess how many people showed up for the event? 25. I must admit I find that very disappointing.

The evening, February 26th 2008, did include a little bit of blowing snow but it was hardly a snow storm. And in fact the crowd (?) that did come together did not include what I call the “usual suspects”. We have in our parish some faithful parishioners who support everything the parish does. The are amazing and real examples of fidelity. Our parish would not be what it is today without them. However, this event was geared to a little bit of a younger crowd. It was an attempt to connect with parents who perhaps do not usually come to such events.

I am grateful for the people who did attend, but I wonder where the others were? It can’t be the advertising. Did we need to have baby-sitting during the event? Do younger people not see the connection between the church and life, besides the occasional Sunday mass? I must say that it makes me question our efforts to make our parish parent/children friendly. Is it worth the effort?

The Horizontal & Vertical Dimensions of Faith

It’s interesting that yesterday’s Office of Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours included a passage from St. Peter Chrysologus writing that Prayer and Fasting are nothing without Mercy. The three are necessary. That led me to reflect on the richness of our Catholic tradition and what it might have to say about the disconnect between faith and life in people’s lives. This may give us insight into why some people are leaving the Church.

We also have the marvelous letter from B16, Deus Caritas Est, which reminds us to focus on the “why” of our actions of love. Our love has be grounded in the love we have received from God.

Another way of looking at it is the image of the Cross. I often use this image when speaking of the liturgy. The liturgy, like the Cross, must have both the horizontal and vertical axis. An excess of one over the other distorts the reality.  A vertical extreme focuses on the other-wordly-ness of the liturgy and is disconnected from the here and now, the community and the social implications and consequences of the Eucharist. It’s probably what I find most troubling about the use by some of the theology of the Tridentine Liturgy. A horizontal extreme, focuses only on the “meal”, the communal experience. It lacks much sense of the transcendant and makes the liturgy a very pedestrian experience.

I wonder if that can also apply to other aspects of the Church’s life. Some may leave the Church for other groups which focus more on community and leave it to individuals to decide whatever they wish in terms of creed, theology etc. Others may sometimes leave the Church for really intense experiences of prayer, praise & worship without every having to “bring it home”… what does it mean that I  have to change about my life?  How does it affect my relationships, the way I run my business or share with my classmate at school?

Either extreme is an abdication of our Catholic heritage. Either extreme fails to image the Cross of Christ!

U.S. Catholics decline

The big news these day is a new study in the U.S. that shows that many Catholics are leaving the Church in favour of more evangelical or charismatic faith communities. Church numbers are actually being sustained by immigration of Catholics. There seems to be a thirst for a greater sense of community and more intensely personal experience of God that other faith groups seem better positioned to provide. It makes me wonder whether our Church’s recent debates about the liturgy and the multitude of “minor” changes to the mass in the next few years will impress the faithful as the kind of meaningful change they were hoping for. It’s not to say that we shouldn’t improve the liturgy. The question is whether it is really the key or one of the key issues we are facing. I don’t know about you but I would rather spend all of that energy and time on continuing education of the clergy on preaching! But then it’s not up to me.

I don’t think that this issue is contained to the U.S. It seems that in Canada the situation is a little bit different. Many, many Catholics here retain their identity as Catholic, but simply don’t go to any Church. They just stay home. Our Archbishop in Toronto, Tom Collins, speaks of the need to reach out not just to those in the pews… the gathered… but the many Catholics who are at home… the scattered. I think it is crucial. Reginald Bibby, a Canadian sociologist, has written quite a bit about this and calls us to reach out to the scattered as they are simply waiting to be invited home.

Such invitations cannot be just through formal programmes or events. It cannot come just from bishops and priests, religious or deacons. It’s got to come from the joy and enthusiasm of every Catholic! Take a look at the example and message of the new Bishop of Pittsburg, PA who challenged his diocese. It’s a 2o minute homily, but you can fast forward at times. It’s a great reflection on how the faith spread like fire after the Resurrection. It’s worth a listen.

Conservative and Liberal Catholic Etiquette Tips Provided

Chicago, IL: In the spirit of dialogue, a local parish group has presented some “guidelines for conversation” between the self-identified conservative and liberal factions of the Church. In addition, they have provided “opening statements to dialogue” that should be avoided.

“We were inspired by the late Cardinal Bernardin’s Common Ground Initiative to keep the lines of communication and wisdom open, but kept running into roadblocks in actual practice of that. So we created this pamphlet that we hope will get placed in every Church foyer. If we are all different parts of the Body of Christ, we must get past the first volleys and into real conversation,” said Maria German, a member of St. Irenaeus parish.

The guidelines to entering conversation, according to the pamphlet, revolve around the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. However, it is the “opening statements to be avoided” that is attracting some attention outside the parish. Examples of the opening statements to be avoided are:

Conservative Openings to Liberals

• Are you orthodox? I mean, really.
• What kind of heretic are you, anyway? Classic heretic or new age wingnut?
• To which degree to you bow before the Blessed Sacrament?
• I’ll bet I can beat you at our Church’s Catechism Bowl.
• You know, I was reading a little Canon Law yesterday….
• Opus Dei is getting completely persecuted in the media.
• Let’s talk liturgical music!

Liberal Openings to Conservatives

• Spit out that slave-trade coffee, you child-labor-loving freak.
• So, just how much do you hate women?
• I really love the blue advent vestments, don’t you?
• Let me pull out my up-to-date poverty statistics pie charts to aid our opening prayer.
• I’d like to share the seven Catholic Social Teaching principles with you, since you obviously don’t know them.
• My Jesuit professor said….
• Let’s talk liturgical music!

“People have been enthusiastic,” said Ms. German. “Even just recognizing that certain statements are ‘hot button’ ones has gone a long way. Starting our dialogue with discussing the weather over a donut is a move in the right direction.”

The full pamphlets are available through the parish’s office.

This post lifted from The Ironic Catholic

Health Update

I visited my physician yesterday and got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that my heart is fine. The bad news is that I’m fat! Well, he was more gentle about it, but that’s the core of the message. The fat in my stomach is pushing the acid up and causing the burning and coughing. I’m on Nexium for a couple of weeks and then I see him again in three weeks. I’ve got to shed 2 kg by then! I guess I had better dust off that WW diary! Keep you posted!

The Future of Catholic Education in Ontario

I’ve  just read an interesting reflection on the future of Catholic education in Ontario by Jim Mulligan, CSC.( Reflections on the Paradigm Shift Affecting Catholic Education in Ontario )

Bro. Mulligan describes the context in which this discussion is taking place and the “paradigm shift” (a term that’s getting a little tired) in society. The author’s goal is to kick-start some thinking about our future… and that of our children.

From a parish perspective this is a critical discussion. Our schools are (or should/could be) the source for new parishioners both children and their parents.  The link between parish/school should be strong and effective. If we don’t invest in our Catholic education system as we have it now, we will be forced to start again from scratch with an internal school system such as exist in the United States.  As a member of an international religious order, I know too many parishes that really struggle to keep their schools going. Do we really want to go that route? Not me.

As a Catholic community we have helped forge the society we now have in Ontario. We have helped create a society which welcomes everyone, based on our Christian and Catholic social teaching. Now that same society is turning its back its own foundations.  We need to reclaim our place at the communal table. Faith and Religion are not only to be tolerated in Ontario, they are part of the heart of what makes us strong.

How I spent the “Family Day”!

Ontario celebrated its first Family Day on Monday, February 18th 2008. It’s a well earned break from the usually dreary February blahs. This year it was a break from the particularily snowy winter. I decided to spend the day relaxing and went out with a friends for brunch and to check out the Eaton Centre downtown.  And that’s when it all sort of went south.

I had a bad cold a little while ago and was feeling much better, except for the recurring burning sensation in my chest. It felt like indigestion or heartburn.  The pharmacist recommended some tablets which helped for while, but the pain returned. On Monday, as I prepared to go out for brunch I also felt a strange twitching feeling in my chest. Not in my heart, but in the muscle of my chest. Strange.

We went out for a great brunch at Fran’s Restuarant, a Toronto landmark, and then walked over to the Eaton Centre which is nearby. While there, the ongoing burning sensation and twitching were now accompanied with a feeling of being light-headed.  I quickly came to the realization that this was not good. We retraced our steps, past Fran’s to nearby St. Michael’s Hospital. 

In a very short while I was admitted to  the E.R. where I was sure the doctor would say it was just gas, and that I should take a pill and go home.  Well it didn’t exactly take place that way. The doctor did say he was pretty sure it was not a heart attack, but that at my age (I cringed) it was better to be sure. He ordered some blood work that would look for enzymes that reveal a heart attack. One such test now and one at 9:00 p.m. Ugh!! I hadn’t planned on staying that long! He also ordered an ECG and X-Ray.  Before long I was hooked up to every machine imaginable and monitered to an inch of my life!  I must admit I felt safe. If anything bad was happening, I was now in the right place.

To make a long story short, they found no evidence of a heart attack. Thank God! It still may be a case of some blockage or possibly pain caused as an effect of all the coughing with my cold. I’m seeing my physician on Thursday for follow-up. 

Now the reason I am sharing all this with you is not so much the medical report but my experience of being in hospital. You see, this was pretty much my first time. I’ve never been sick or needing to be in hospital.  St. Michael’s Hospital, founded by the amazing Sisters of St. Joseph, is in the down-town core of Toronto. There are lots of homeless and poor in the community. The hospital attracts drug addicts, the mentally ill and the occasional friar (not always easy to tell apart!) During my time at St. Mike’s I was amazed by the quality of care that I received and the kindness with which it was given.  What was even more outstanding was that everyone there received the same care. I’m not saying that everything is perfect there all the time. But, I can say quite clearly, that the time I spent at St. Mike’s I witnessed care and compassion that does honour to the staff and to the hospital.

Let me give you an example. There was a man near me who seemed to have some mental health issues. Ok, that’s putting it mildly; he was as crazy as a loon. He did a lot of yelling and cursing and just being a pain.  At one point we heard some rather strange bodily sounds, some crash and bang, and there he was in the hall, his IV pulled out and blood pouring all over the floor and walls. He had also soiled himself, the bed and the area. The odour was disgusting.

The nurse came quickly and the poor woman didn’t know where to start. She called for help and just dove in to help him.  Now I was stuck in that bed of mine, attached to all the machines… and I wanted to run because it smelled so bad. The nurse didn’t even flinch. Now, I don’t know what was going on in her head, but on the outside she was together.  There was not a word of anger or frustration, but only care and concern for the man.  The same was true of the staff that came to take him down for a shower or the ones who cleaned the cubicle in the E.R. 

What I witnessed at St. Michael’s Hospital  in Toronto was a compassion that was of the calibre of Mother Theresa or Damien of Molokai.  I’m sure the nurse in question would not agree, but I saw it with my own eyes.  I left the hospital late at night praising God for a relatively clean bill of health. I left the hospital grateful for our Canadian health system which took such good care of me, and not just me, but the poor and powerless. I left the hospital humbled by the courage and generosity of nurses, doctors and staff at St. Mikes.  They gave me quite an example of what Family is all about.  Happy Family Day.