Update: Head of Holy See Press Office Issues Statement

ChelseaContraception2 Comments

Don’t expect the media to pick this one up. From Vatican Radio: The head of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, has issued a statement clarifying passages of the book Light of the World, in which Pope Benedict discusses AIDS and condom use. The statement says Pope Benedict states that AIDS cannot be solved only by the … Read More

Benedict, Condoms and Context

ChelseaContraception1 Comment

By now, many of you have probably seen the headline that Pope Benedict has “declared condom use acceptable ‘in certain cases’”, or something to that effect. I’ve seen some people really fretting about it on my Facebook news feed, but a closer look at the pope’s actual words, which come from an interview that was published in a book called … Read More

Assisted Suicide: the Musical

ChelseaAssisted Suicide, Death, Disabled2 Comments

You may recall that a few years ago Clint Eastwood dramatized the life of a female boxer who becomes paralyzed and seeks suicide help from her trainer. The latest attempt to disparage the lives of disabled people and promote assisted suicide through popular culture comes from India where a similar film opened this weekend. In this film the main character … Read More

Happy Potter Day! *Updated*

ChelseaPro Life12 Comments

I know I’m not the only one excited about the release of the first of the last of the Harry Potter movies. My facebook news feed is full of Potter anticipation and several of my friends already went to see it at midnight early this morning. Have you seen it? Are you planning on seeing it this weekend? I won’t … Read More

Catch the Dominican Sisters on Oprah Again Next Week!

ChelseaCelibacy, Media, ReligionLeave a Comment

Set your DVRs! The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist will be on the Oprah Winfrey Show for a second time next Tuesday, November 23 (h/t Aggie Catholics). See my post Oprah Schooled on Celibacy for my thoughts on when the sisters originally appeared on the show this February. These sisters are so radiant with the Light of … Read More

JP II, the Church on Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration

ChelseaAssisted Suicide, Disabled, Euthanasia, Right to Life, SufferingLeave a Comment

Last week I talked about withdrawing nutrition and hydration from sick and disabled people using a passage from Pope Benedict’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) on every human beings basic right to receive food and water. I forgot that in 2004 John Paul II discussed this issue specifically in an address to participants in the International Congress on … Read More

Boy Records Rap Song to Celebrate His Sister With Special Needs

ChelseaDisabled, Hope, Music, video1 Comment

I can’t wait till next Monday to post this song. Seven year old “MattyB” has dedicated a song to his younger sister with Down syndrome (h/t Live Action). Sweet. Beautiful. And over 2 million views on YouTube since August! Way to reach a large audience with a positive message about children with Down syndrome! This song can be downloaded on … Read More

TOB Tues.: To Look Away or to Not Lust…That is the Question

ChelseaChastity, Lust, Theology of the Body, TOB TuesdayLeave a Comment

A day late getting to TOB Tuesday. I got busier yesterday than I thought I would and had no time for blogging, but I did want to point out this thought-provoking article from James Simons at Catholic Exchange (that has generated some great conversation in the combox) on the question of whether it is the man’s responsibility to look away … Read More

Music for Your Monday: Grace is Dancing

ChelseaDisabled, Embryo Screening, Hope, Love, Marriage, Music, Pro Life, Right to Life, video1 Comment

“Grace is Dancing” is a very moving song by Tyrone Wells about a little girl with Down syndrome. In the video below, Tyrone tells the story of Grace’s birth and how she survived against all odds (h/t Rebecca Taylor): What a lovely testament to the life of this young girl and, yet, how sad, too, to know that the overwhelming … Read More

Food and Water are Universal Human Rights

ChelseaEuthanasia6 Comments

Lately I’ve been reading Pope Benedict’s third and most recent encyclical, Caritas in Veritate. The whole thing so far has been an enlightening read, but I was particularly struck by this passage I read recently: The right to food, like the right to water, has an important place within the pursuit of other rights, beginning with the fundamental right to … Read More