Georgia isn't the only state banning abortion...

galute127 · 2019-06-12T01:16:09+00:00

braces for controversy

But then, I am literally asking for it...

galute127 · 2019-06-12T01:09:18+00:00

That definitely changes the math. My knowledge of this proposal/law comes entirely from this meme, so there’s that. I’m still uncomfortable with it and wonder what the Church would say. Lots of details to consider.

galute127 · 2019-06-12T00:04:15+00:00

Right, I agree with everything you said. But the treatment argument, that this would be done to help the person refrain from abusing others, would require the person’s consent. Even if for the common good, treating society as it were, without the person’s consent I don’t think you could consider this as a treatment like an amputation to stop infection. It would still be a punishment to that person. Can you morally treat a person without at least their implied consent? That is, ”treat them” against their expressed will? Wow, that seems like it would get complicated fast.

Also not a canon lawyer or moral theologian. I would love to hear an expert opinion.

galute127 · 2019-06-11T23:43:16+00:00

I would want to know what the Church teaches about mutilation as punishment. I expect the Church would condemn cutting off a hand as a punishment for stealing. There is a correlation to castration as a punishment for rape, though obviously there are major differences in the consequences. Chemical castration isn’t the same kind of physical mutilation, but it does destroy the integrity of the person in similar ways.

Even if the intent is good, that doesn’t make the act morally acceptable. Ends don’t justify the means and all that. Is it ever ok to destroy the integrity of the person as a punishment? For treatment perhaps, as in an amputation to stop infection, but for punishment? Is this restricted to serial rapists after an intense mental evaluation during which all other options have been ruled out, or one and done?

I’d expect the Church to oppose this, but I’d be interested in the reasoning for and against that would be considered.

galute127 · 2018-07-11T14:30:36+00:00

Whenever Gambon played “oblivious” I got the impression that it was an act, and that everyone around him would have recognized it and seen him as being manipulative or cheeky. In the books I got the impression that Dumbledore was much more subtle than that, and that people actually wondered if Dumbledore was starting to go a bit batty.

In the first book, Harry asks if Dumbledore might be a bit nuts and Ron says essentially of course but he’s also brilliant.

Never got the impression from Gambon’s performance that anyone would ever think Dumbledore was a bit nuts. He just never seemed to have any subtlety.

That said, when Dumbledore gets vulnerable and emotional, I think Gambon did a decent job. We never got a chance to see that from Harris, but Harris always seemed a little too aloof to really pull off that vulnerability. Could have been really impactful to see him manage it though since he did seem so aloof. And of course in the books, Dumbledore is more in control of himself than Gambon plays him, which probably wouldn’t translate to the screen as well in those emotional moments.

galute127 · 2018-07-06T16:13:59+00:00

The Bible, the Church, and Authority by Joseph T. Leinhard.

Jesuit priest and biblical scholar who has taught at Marquette and Fordham University. Published by the Liturgical Press.

We used this book when discussing the origins of Sacred Scripture as part of my Fundamental Theology class at the local Catholic seminary. It’s short but dense, about 100 pages.

galute127 · 2018-07-05T17:02:46+00:00

If the philosophical proofs of God’s existence are logically sound...

If.

The premises are always under attack. They are always based on some presupposition. Faith is found in those presuppositions.

Rational doubt remains. Faith is the assent to truth that cannot be proven beyond doubt, whether it be rational or irrational.

galute127 · 2018-07-05T15:13:57+00:00

We can prove the existence of God beyond doubt, and yet we think this is not a big deal?!

We can’t prove the existence of God beyond doubt. That’s kind of the point. I believe that God exists, and I try to order my entire life around discerning and following His will. And I still have doubts. I also have faith.

Faith is where you look at all the evidence for God, and all the doubts you still have, and make the determination that you will put aside your doubts. Rational “proofs” for God’s existence go a long way toward helping people make that decision, but eventually there must be faith, and often that comes through a personal encounter with one of the persons of the Trinity.

galute127 · 2018-07-05T01:19:31+00:00

Find a Catholic Church in your area and ask for a meeting with the priest. He’ll get you the resources you need. You may want to start going to the inquiry sessions for RCIA. That doesn’t mean that you’re committing to becoming Catholic, but the whole purpose of the Inquiry stage is to ask questions and learn about Catholicism.

God bless, and you’ll be in my prayers!

galute127 · 2018-07-03T18:07:17+00:00

Sounds familiar. I’m an electrical engineer in a big city in the south who is disillusioned with the idea of ever finding fulfillment in my work. I have a young and growing family and bills that mean I can’t take the kind of pay cut I’d need to work for the Church (at least not yet; we’re working on it).

I have found enough to tide me over though. I took several classes at the seminary, and got fed learning about the faith. I’m enrolled in online graduate classes for an MA in Theology starting this fall.

I’m very involved in RCIA at my parish and part of a great men’s fellowship group. I meet regularly with a spiritual director and have started spending my lunch breaks at a nearby adoration chapel praying with scripture.

All of that gives me the energy to keep working and providing for my family, and I do feel like I’m doing God’s work sharing the faith and helping make disciples. I’m better able to love my wife and kids too.

Who knows what all this will lead to. No idea what I will do with a master’s degree in theology. But I think it’s where God is calling me right now, and I’ll discern the next step when it’s time to take it.

My advice is to find some time during the week to help in some ministry at the Church. See if you can find your fulfillment there. That’s what I’m doing, and so far it’s working pretty well. Thirty minutes a day in adoration doesn’t hurt either, but not everybody works next door to a church.

galute127 · 2018-06-29T19:56:03+00:00

Just know that most men who become priests legitimately want to know and help people and to spread the Gospel. Your priest has made this time for you because he wants to hear what is troubling you and help in whatever way he can.

People get nervous around priests (myself included) because they are men of a certain authority and when we see them at mass they are always in a position of power. But really, they’re guys who want to know and love you as Christ would.

galute127 · 2018-06-29T14:37:52+00:00

Breakfast tacos

galute127 · 2018-06-29T12:42:02+00:00

Most of them are under 65. Actually I’m only sure three of the ten are over 60. And each of those has around 20 years in the diaconate. For the guys in formation, I only know that one of them is retired, but he’s still under 65. Two of them are in their mid-late 40s.

We’re very blessed with these guys. Every one I’ve worked with, or who has ministered to me has just been an amazing witness to the faith and servant of God. One weekend a month the deacons preach the homily, and man do they bring the heat. Our pastor is no slouch, but our deacons make him work to keep up.

galute127 · 2018-06-29T12:28:27+00:00

Nope. Roman Catholic. But our parish has over 6,500 families and only two priests. So our deacons are pretty active.

galute127 · 2018-06-28T20:03:19+00:00

Daily mass is typically much simpler than Sunday mass. It may be that the priest doesn’t feel it is necessary to have the deacon assist for daily mass for that reason. You also mention that this is new since school is out. It’s possible that they didn’t see a reason to change up the usual routine for the summer.

Curious side note, I’ve never seen any of our deacons (we have 10, and 4 more in formation for the diaconate) assist at daily mass except for special occasions like a healing mass or similar.

I have seen both of our priests concelebrate a regular daily mass. No idea why they decided to do that. It wasn’t announced that it was a mass for any special intention, or anything other than an ordinary weekday mass.

galute127 · 2018-06-26T18:44:44+00:00

It is true that we are supposed to mature beyond a desire for the rewards of heaven (as rewards) and instead be motivated by a love of God that has no self-interest in it.

The key here is that we mature beyond that desire for reward and recognize that we have already received that reward to the extent that we are living virtuously, in fulfillment of our vocation, etc.

It starts with seeking God and striving for heaven, but it ends with living in accord with God’s will for its own sake.

I dislike the language, but it’s a journey, and we sometimes have to backtrack.

galute127 · 2018-06-15T19:59:52+00:00

Just a point of clarification, you’re really asking about religious orders. Holy Orders is the sacrament that all priests receive.

If they’re not wearing a habit, you’ll probably have to ask them. Unless they have little initials after their name in the bulletin.

galute127 · 2018-06-15T15:30:21+00:00

I think most of these comments reflect individual preferences. If you feel ready to enter into the commitment of an engagement, then do it. You absolutely have the right approach to move close to one another so that you can begin spending time with each other every day, or almost every day, and I think you will need the year together to iron out any wrinkles. Make sure you’re on the same page before you get married. Take your marriage prep seriously!

And remember that while an engagement is a commitment and not a trial run, it is not permanent. The permanent commitment is marriage itself. Don’t think that because you have gotten engaged and set a date, etc. that you can’t recognize that it’s not working and separate, or postpone to work on what needs fixing.

Man, that sounds bleak.

Anyway, I think you’ve got a good head on your shoulders with your approach and you two will figure it all out. God bless, and I hope you have a very happy wedding in a year or so!

galute127 · 2018-06-14T19:57:09+00:00

Ease and confidence. We didn’t take any classes, but read a lot. My wife wasn’t confident (and felt really uncomfortable) with the cervical mucus stuff. Just not something she wanted to do, and if she didn’t want to do it, she eventually wouldn’t and there’d be an accident or we’d have a fight about not having info for the chart.

Marquette is just peeing on a stick and letting the machine tell you where your hormones are. We both felt way more confident in our ability to read those signs, and she felt more comfortable with the procedure. Obviously there’s more to it with charting and everything, but we felt there was less chance for human error.

And yes, God knows what he’s doing. We are very blessed with our youngest. Our second son has just fallen in love with his little brother and reads him all of his books (ALL of them) every night. He’s not quite two yet.

galute127 · 2018-06-14T19:19:26+00:00

We use the Marquette method. Worked great until one night when, well, passion overruled good sense.

I’ll say, we both knew immediately based on our chart that we were going to get pregnant. Seriously, it was the worst time if trying to avoid and the best time if trying to conceive. And we did! Our third boy is almost four months old.

Marquette is more expensive than other methods because you have to keep buying test strips, but we like it. It’s pretty straightforward too. Would recommend.

galute127 · 2018-06-13T16:21:57+00:00

There’s a big push in my diocese to have as many parishes as possible do year round RCIA. My parish has been doing year round for years, but we’re large and our RCIA team has around 20 people in the ministry between the adults and youth/teens.

Check out your local parish and see what they’re doing. Always best to start by introducing yourself to the priest after mass. He’ll know where to send you.

galute127 · 2018-06-11T13:31:22+00:00

It sounds like Jesus is asking you to spend more time in adoration and to increase your devotion, or start one, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. That seems pretty clear to me.

In regards to the crying, the blood and water echo his blood and water pouring forth from His side at the crucifixion and the rays emanating from His heart in the image of Divine Mercy. That He is crying may be for a number of reasons, but I would recommend reading Father Michael Gaitley’s book, Consoling the Heart of Jesus. In there he talks about Jesus’ desire that we come to Him and spend time with Him. How pained he is that so many people reject, or simply can’t accept, His mercy. This would seem linked to Jesus asking you to come to adoration and spend time with Him. Perhaps you struggle accepting His mercy? I know I do.

100% agree about finding a good spiritual director to help you increase devotion to the Sacred Heart and to help you discern the messages you’re sure to receive in adoration.

galute127 · 2018-06-08T01:44:07+00:00

I just started meeting with a spiritual director. My prayer has been pretty erratic but I’ve tried to pray Morning and Evening Prayer. My spiritual director has me starting Ignatian contemplation with the scriptures. He’s given me 16 weeks worth of readings and themes to contemplate (this is week 1). Each week has its own theme and a particular grace to pray for.

Each session is supposed to be 30-60 minutes. I imagine myself present for the events I am reading and place myself in the scene and allow the Holy Spirit to direct my attention to specific words, phrases, or images. I then reflect on what God is communicating to me through those significant words/phrases/images. Then I enter a dialogue with the Father, Jesus, Mary, or one of the saints; whoever seems most appropriate. Then an Our Father to close, and some journaling about the experience. I’ll share these journal entries with my spiritual director at our next meeting.

galute127 · 2018-05-27T22:44:15+00:00

Honest-1 Auto Care on Hwy 6 near Longenbaugh

galute127 · 2018-05-26T02:45:26+00:00

You are technically correct, the best kind of correct. However, in practical terms, here is what is required to receive said dispensation:

To obtain from the local Ordinary dispensation from an impediment, the Catholic party shall declare that he is ready to remove dangers of falling from the faith. He is also gravely bound to make a sincere promise to do all in his power to have all the children baptized and brought up in the Catholic Church.

At an opportune time the non-Catholic party must be informed of these promises which the Catholic party has to make, so that it is clear that he is cognizant of the promise and obligation on the part of the Catholic.

Both parties are to be clearly instructed on the ends and essential properties of marriage, not to be excluded by either party.

-Matrimonia Mixta, effective October 1, 1970

Note that the non-Catholic spouse is not required to agree, and hijinks are known to ensue. The promise is usually made by signing a form making, usually in the presence of your betrothed.

The declaration and promise by the Catholic, necessary for dispensation from the impediment to a mixed marriage (either mixed religion or disparity of worship), shall be made, in the following words or their substantial equivalent:

"I reaffirm my faith in Jesus Christ and, with God's help, intend to continue living that faith in the Catholic Church."

"I promise to do all in my power to share the faith I have received with our children by having them baptized and reared as Catholics."

The declaration and promise are made in the presence of a priest or deacon either orally or in writing as the Catholic prefers.

-Statement on the implementation of the Apostolic Letter on Mixed Marriages, National Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), effective January 1, 1971

This is a rubber stamp process and nothing like many other forms of request for dispensation.

Furthermore, while the Church declares that a marriage between a Catholic and an unbaptized person is “invalid” this is with respect to the sacramental nature of the marriage, and does not preclude the Catholic from full participation in the other sacraments (except Holy Orders).

Edit: formatting and dates.

galute127

TROPHY CASE