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
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
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*
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!
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
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
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
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
“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
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