Don't Despair

The Pope Francis Dichotomy

I wrote on Facebook that "someone should write an article called 'The Pope Francis Dichotomy', since many non-Catholics are getting the wrong idea about Church teaching on subjects such as homosexuality. 

For example, one such pro-homosexual-unions, non-Catholic wrote on Facebook: "Love this Pope!!! Beyond impressed, finally a Pope that lives in the REAL world, and not some imagined fantasy world." Because the pope said, "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge? We shouldn't marginalise people for this." 

So, I wrote the article myself. Here it is:

He can't change Church teaching, and he hasn't changed Church teaching, and most of what he says is misconstrued by the media. 

When he speaks lovingly and with understanding about people who have homosexual tendencies, he is, as far as I can tell (because he can be rather confusing, since he does not use the clear language his predecessors used), merely speaking what the Church has always taught about human sexuality and the value of the human being. 

There are several things he says that I cannot decipher (or even bother to), but I don't worry about that, because, on this subject, Church teaching, as always, is clear. 

Remember that.

‪#‎catechismofthecatholicchurch‬ #endtheconfusion #prayforthepope #prayfortheworld #santamariaorapronobis
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-children-have-right-to-a-mother-and-father-56123/

Sainsbury's Insight

When I was in England, I noticed that the government and the people honored the soldiers of WWI A LOT. I assume this is because it was so close to home and they suffered massive losses. England is like Guam in that it is a place still scarred by war.

This video (pasted below), created by Sainsbury's, England's version of Payless supermarkets, is priceless on so many levels. Not only is it a tribute to those who fought in the war, but it shows how Christianity (they were singing Silent Night, which describes Jesus's nativity) was a unifying factor for the men and a comfort in times of death and darkness. The film also reminds one of the purity of the human spirit, which even war cannot destroy. It reminds you that all men are created equal, no man is created evil, and belief in God's gift to us, His only begotten Son--in ways we don't even realize--can put into effect things we could never imagine.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/11/14/theres-a-reason-this-wwi-themed-2014-christmas-advert-inspired-by-real-events-has-gone-mega-viral/

Brittany Maynard Chose Life

I am glad to see that this poor woman, Brittany Maynard, has chosen to let her life run its course. 

There's no dignity or relief for anyone in suicide. 

In the article, her mom says she would feed and bathe her daughter until the end. I'm sure that would help someone like her mother to deal with her loss better, because she could care for her daughter, rather than having to just let her kill herself. 

Now her family can prepare better for what is to come, and never think the kind of "what if?" people ask when someone chooses to kill themselves.

By the way, exchanging the word "suicide" for "mercy killing" or "euthanasia" does not change what it is, or how it affects other people.

Please keep her and all people in her position (and their families) in your prayers.http://www.ijreview.com/2014/10/194905-the-woman-who-has-chosen-to-end-her-life-on-nov-1-releases-new-video-addressing-her-fears-and-emotions-as-the-date-arrives/

Cardinal Burke, Keeping it Real

And all he did was stick to the truth.
I can't believe how much we complicate things by trying to be ecumenical and "nice." Burke just stuck to the truth, treated the guy like a human being, and had faith that God would do the rest.
"In 1995, after four years of trying to combine sporadic Catholic worship with fulltime homosexual cohabitation, Hess gave up, and melodramatically “boxed up all my crucifixes and Bibles and dropped them off at the office of the bishop of La Crosse, Wisconsin with a letter renouncing the Catholic faith.”

That would be Bishop Raymond “Ivory Tower” Burke. To Hess’ surprise and chagrin, Bishop Burke responded kindly, saying he respected Hess’ decision but would pray for his return. A self-described “gay activist,” Hess was outraged at the bishop’s “arrogance,” and wrote back to accuse him of harassment and instruct him to never write again. But Bishop Burke did write again, one last, kind letter, promising to obey Hess’ dictate, but also promising, “if I should want to reconcile with the Church, he would welcome me back with open arms.”"

https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/how-cardinal-burke-welcomed-home-a-gay-activist

Remember : Thoughts on the Movie "Fury"

Spoiler Alert*******************************************************************************************************************

Remember:

If you haven't been reminded in a while why war is ugly, watch Fury.

If you haven't been reminded in a while how much death and destruction war can bring, watch Fury.

If you haven't been reminded in a while of how lucky you are to live in a free country like America, watch Fury.

If you haven't been reminded in a while how lucky we are to be living beyond WW2, watch Fury.

If you haven't been reminded in a while of the kind of fighting and deaths that made it possible for you to read this post on a smartphone in the safety of wherever you are (if you're in Guam, you're not being shot at), watch Fury.

I'm not sure how else I can articulate that you should probably go watch Fury and put your life into perspective, and maybe even start thinking of ways that you can remind other people that world wars are possible and real, and should be avoided AT THE VERY LEAST through our efforts to remember, even if its just by being reminded through a movie like Fury.

Faith: Thoughts on the Movie "Fury"

Spoiler Alert*******************************************************************************************************************

Faith:

At first, I was annoyed by the shocking lack of Christian undercurrent in the film, and I say that because even Hollywood can't deny that most of America, back in 1945, feared God. That fact is usually more or less acknowledged. In "Fury", however, there appeared, at first, to be only one soldier who actively believed in God (specifically, he prayed and quoted the Bible).

His faith was laughed at initially, but as things escalated, you could see in the eyes of the soldiers (great acting, by the way) what kind of comfort and affirmation a single, relatable quote from the Bible provided.

Something I thought was really cool was when Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf sort of had a conversation through quoting to each other as LaBeouf's character patched up a hit Pitt's character had taken in the arm. Pitt seemed to be repenting, quoting a verse that essentially listed his faults, from pride to lust. LeBeouf's reminded him through another quote that, even in the midsts of his sins, he had accomplished God's Will (in fighting the Nazis). That's the way I understood it, anyway.

Logan Lerman's character was also very different from the other men fighting from with the tank called "Fury". He had a conscience to keep intact, which he did, I think, in spite of everything. In the end, the fact that he and the Bible-believing soldier were two to of the most respected men in troupe, besides Pitt's character. 

Ideas: Thoughts on the Movie "Fury"

Spoiler Alert*******************************************************************************************************************

Ideas:

There were a few things about the movie "Fury" that really stood out to me. I think they were supposed to stand out, because there were only a few moments in the movie when the characters seemed to stop and make some sort of introspective, revealing remark like this one:

"Ideas are peaceful; history is violent."

Brad Pitt's character said that, and in my head, I was like, "Nooooot really."

This is why: Ideas are not always peaceful. Ideas, in fact, make history. What's more, ideas are what make history violent.

Hitler's troops were mobilized by the ideas he had in his head. Before Hitler ever came to power, he spent time filling his head and the heads of others with ideas. Demonic ideas. World-domination ideas. Self-worshipping ideas. Hitler's idea of how the world should be and how, more importantly, he should be worshipped as the saviour of the Aryan race, resulted in the slaughter of countless millions.

Never, never underestimate an idea.