For Sunday: Divine Mercy

(“Lord have mercy”)

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Icon by Aidan Hart: http://www.aidanharticons.com/

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Blessed John Paul II

While I was perhaps John Paul II’s greatest admirer, I understand why many think his beatification was rushed. Much has come to light since his death- the treachery of Fr Maciel, whom John Paul defended, the extent of hierarchal complicity in the clerical abuse scandal- that has revealed not only that he was not much of an administrator, but that he was not a good judge of character. And even during his lifetime it was apparent that he had allowed Catholic social teaching to be hijacked by neoconservatives. To be sure, he attempted to clarify matters, but after the media blitz following the publication of Centesimus Annus  the damage was done.

But he is being canonized not for being an effective administrator nor for discerning hearts -indeed, Mother Teresa’s confessor turned out to be an abuser- but rather for his holiness, which was evident.

For even saints are flawed; the communion of saints  includes preachers of holy war, defenders of capital punishment for heretics, narrow minded men and women, sometimes viciously attacking their (often sainted) enemies, and the rest.

God overlooks much, and humans are a dense lot.

John Paul II was a holy man, and one who accomplished much good for the Church and the world in spite of his flaws.

Blessed John Paul II, pray for us.

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Farming, Inc.

Where industrial farming reigns:

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Ukrainian Primate Calls for Reconciliation

Imagine; a Church leader not imprisoned by history:

“I think, we should not poison our relations today with the phantom pains of the past.” So said the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav in an interview to the “Focus” magazine in response to a question about the relations with the Moscow Patriarchate.

According to the head of UGCC, our Churches have many wounds inflicted in the past: “I read about phantom pains felt by a person in their absent lost arm. It is a psychological illusion,” noted Patriarch Sviatoslav.

“I am convinced that we will be able to heal the wounds when we heal our memory with mutual forgiveness. We are now ready for it and, moreover, our faithful demand it. We, as the pastors, should hear the voice of the people, which is the voice of God,” stressed the head of UGCC.

Read the rest: http://sainteliaschurch.blogspot.com/2011/04/patriarch-sviatoslav-urges-to-get-rid.html

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The Real American Exceptionalism (V)

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A New Catholic Land Movement?

I recently heard from a young man, Kevin Ford, who had just discovered that Caelum et Terra still existed, though in a very different form than it had in print (and with some different emphases).  He told me of his attempt to rekindle the movement back to the land that has a long tradition in Catholic life.

While the magazine had a definite and pronounced agrarian tone, and while some of our readers integrated this in their lives, and some even began communities (which did not turn out well), the editor slowly lost this particular dream, while still holding to the ideal, and to localist and distributist notions.

Mr Ford has, without irony -for younger agrarians are much more comfortable with technology than I ever was while editing the magazine- begun a Catholic Land Movement blog. It is very good; give it a look:

http://catholichomesteadingmovement.blogspot.com/

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Muslims and Mary

Mutual respect for Our Lady may offer hope of peace:

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=a3146ea8-5c72-4be2-b9ce-f688c0cf6b49

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Bishop of Tripoli Decries Libyan War

“NATO’s war makes no sense. People want peace. What have people done to deserve all this?” asks Mgr Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, apostolic vicar of Tripoli. “Targeting military objectives” is crazy because “bombs are striking everywhere,” the prelate said. “We cannot sleep and people are panicking,” he added. “Just last night, there were some explosions just a few kilometres from our area.”

Read more:

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/This-%E2%80%9Cwar-makes-no-sense%E2%80%9D,-the-Italian-govt-should-%E2%80%9Cresign%E2%80%9D,-Tripoli-bishop-says-21417.html

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The Real American Exceptionalism (IV)

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Lord Have Mercy

Senate hawks push for intervention in Syria: http://news.antiwar.com/2011/04/28/senate-hawks-push-for-obama-move-against-syria/

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