by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
In response to the many U.S. dioceses that are facing severe financial pressure as a result of the sex abuse crisis, and are now being forced to close parishes, the Congregation for the Clergy is working on a document that will provide guidelines for the closing or merging of parishes.
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"I often thought my constitution would never endure the work I had to do, (but) the Lord said to me: 'Daughter, obedience gives strength.'"
St. Teresa of Avila
For Reflection:
Embracing the will of God with love and joy gives us the strength we need for every situation and makes our efforts fruitful. How does this knowledge apply to me today?
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
In the final days leading up to the next World Youth Day, which will be held in Madrid from August 16-21 of this year, the Vatican has released statistics showing that nearly a half million youth are registered to attend.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A detailed report on the kidnap and forced conversion of a 24 year-old Pakistani Catholic girl will be presented to the UN Council for Human Rights within the next few weeks in order to draw attention to the plight of Christian girls who are routinely kidnapped and forced to convert before being married to Muslim men.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Doctors across the nation are reacting with concern over a new program to be launched by the Obama Administration which will involve a team of "mystery shoppers" who will pose as patients and call doctor's offices for appointments to see how difficult it is for people to get care.
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"Above and beyond any considerations of convenience or efficiency, the principal reason why obedience is so essential for the disciple of Christ is that it forms part of the mystery of Redemption: Christ revealed to us His mystery; by his obedience he brought about our redemption."
Lumen Gentium, Vatican Council II
For Reflection:
According to this quotation, obedience unites me to the redemption of Christ. For whom or for what do I wish to offer my obedience as a redemptive act of love?
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Chicago police are looking for the person(s) who entered a warehouse late Saturday night or early Sunday morning and cut the tires on all 51 floats destined for this weekend's "Gay Pride" Parade.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Bishop David M. O'Connell of the Diocese of Trenton has declared a newly formed "independent" Catholic church made up of parishioners of three closed parishes to be "schismatic."
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Even before the ink dried on a new bill allowing same-sex marriage in the state of New York, opponents began warning that lawsuits are on the way because the so-called "religious protections" that were tacked onto the new law will not be able to protect the faithful.
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"Oh, virtue of obedience! It can do everything!"
St. Teresa of Avila
For Reflection:
Can I recall an instance from my own life when I saw the virtue of obedience "do everything" for me? How does this help me to embrace obedience even more?
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