Association Of Catholic Bloggers

    Often when I hear a politician or news person speaking, I wonder about their religious identity.   Usually it is something in their language that causes me to wonder if they are Catholic. This happened the other day as I was listening to the Governor of New Jersey talking on a news show.   I had never seen the Governor or heard him talk before, but there was something in his speech that sounded familiarly Catholic to me. As I researched him, sure enough, he identifies himself (somewhat loosely) as a Catholic, referring to his parish and so forth. So imagine my surprise when I learned that about a year ago he actually signed a bill called the Medical Aid in Dying Bill. The bill allows for terminally ill patients to be given a prescription for a lethal drug. (don’t you love how these bills always put a soft name on a terrible law?) Anyway, here is what multiple sources quoted him as saying: “ After careful consideration, internal reflection, and prayer, I have concluded

Part of the Arecibo radio telescope collapsed this summer. A supporting cable had snapped. Another cable gave way this month.... ...I'll be taking a quick look at the Arecibo observatory's origin and achievements. Make that achievements of scientists using the radio reflector. What? No Space Alien Conspiracies? Sic Transit Gloria Arecibo A Professor, Sputnik and an Act of Congress World's Biggest: 1963-2016 An Unexpected Spin-Orbit Resonance Pulsars, Planets and Prudence Science, Safety and Greater Admiration More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

...The Osakis Chamber of Commerce parade sounds like a good idea. Provided that they take pandemic-related precautions to keep folks comparatively safe. I'm guessing that this year's sidewalk watchers will be spread out more, and wearing face masks. But I won't be going. Even though Osakis is only 20 minutes down the road. Standing on a central Minnesota sidewalk after sundown in early December isn't my idea of a good time. The COVID-19 pandemic is still around, and making a difference. Maybe that's this post's unifying idea: Macy's Parade News: Good and Sort-of-Good Rampantly Raging Death and Dramatic Drumbeats Monday's Death Toll in Rural Minnesota Speculation and a Serious Subject Streaming Together for Thanksgiving Sound, Fury and the Usual Paranoia More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

  Yes, the Book of Revelation can be a challenging read in general.   But there are parts of it that are clear as a bell. Take the letter to Laodicea in Chapter 3: “I know that you are neither cold nor hot.   I wish you were either cold or hot.   So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Oh my.   I love the footnote: “Halfhearted commitment to the faith is nauseating to Christ.” In St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Chapter 12) he says, “Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.   Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” Are you lukewarm in your faith? Have you grown slack, or are you fervent in the spirit? With the holy season of Advent coming around the corner (Nov. 29 th ) these would be good questions for us to explore as we begin an examination of conscience. Will your focus be on the coming of Jesus at Christmas? Will you give witness to your faith by your words and action

The Last Judgement , Michelangelo  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales,  Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Matthew 25:31-46 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) Jesus said to his disciples:   “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.   Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.   And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.   Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.   For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,   I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was