The Vatican and Condoms

The blogging world has been afire with news reports back and forth on the topic of a possible Vatican document regarding the use of condoms within a marriage for people who don't want to give AIDS to their spouse.

I haven't posted on it much because their simply isn't much to know. A document like this, based on a study now underway by theologians, would be entirely up to the pope in the end. Endless speculation and assumptions about what Humanae Vitae would say did immense damage to the Church in 1968 and beyond. Likewise, too much conjecture about a document like this and what it might mean and the direction it might point is almost entirely useless, especiall at this time.

Still, you can read a CNS story that I posted that is fairly balanced.

Immigration Rally

An estimated 15,000 people marched from St. Mary Church in downtown Indianapolis on April 10 to the City-County Building as part of protests around the nation to mark a "Day of Action for Immigrant Justice."

See photos of the event here. A story, especially regarding Catholic involvement in the rally, will be coming in an upcoming issue of The Criterion.

Compendium of the Catechism released

The English translation of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church was released on March 31. You can purchase it through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or at Amazon.com (for cheaper, I might add).

A much shorter version of the full Catechism, this paperback is composed of 598 questions about the faith that each have answers that average 2-4 sentences -- extremely compact, concise, clear and accurate answers about what we believe as Catholics. It really is a special gift to be able to simply explain concepts that "unpacked" could be studied for a lifetime. I'll give you an example:

53. Why was the world created?
The world was created for the glory of God who wished to show forth and communicate his goodness, truth and beauty. The ultimate end of creation is that God, in Christ, might be "all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28) for his glory and our happiness.

The Compendium also makes use of full-color sacred art from across the history of the Church, as has a list of common prayers in the back that are in both English and Latin.

I would recommend that every Catholic household -- especially those with children -- get a copy. The Catechism was called a "gift" to the Church when it was published more than a decade ago -- and this is another such gift.

(Note: This is our 100th post on this blog, and I'm pleased that it could be about something as wonderful as this new Compendium.)

The "Gospel" of Judas

Posted on Friday was this story from Catholic News Service: Found 'Gospel of Judas' paints alternate portrait of Jesus' betrayer

This is, of course, a story that has been thrown about in the secular media for several days now. Taken from the CNS story:

The document, a third-century Coptic translation of what had originally been written in Greek before 180 A.D., paints Judas in a more sympathetic light than his well-known role as Jesus' betrayer in the canonical Gospels.

In it, Jesus said Judas would "exceed all" of the other disciples, "for you will sacrifice the man that clothes me" -- a reference to Judas' impending betrayal of Jesus. It is also an allusion to gnostic belief that held the spirit in higher esteem than the body, and that, through the liberation of Jesus' body, his spirit would be freed.

The Gospel of Judas was mentioned in a book condemning heresies that was written by St. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, France, in 180 A.D.

A news brief from the same day deals bluntly with the find:

The Gospel of Judas was unimportant to most Christians when it was written hundreds of years ago and it is unimportant today, said a Jesuit professor who has convoked a series of ecumenical studies of the historical Jesus. Jesuit Father Gerald O'Collins, a longtime professor of Christology at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University, said the text, like the gospels of Mary Magdalene and Philip, "does not merit the name 'Gospel.'"

Marian image in Moline

In leafing through the online editions of the newspapers of our neighboring dioceses, I could help but stop at this gem: Marian image in Moline draws crowds

Since most of my wife's family is from the Moline (Quad Cities) area, I had to stop and give it a look. I know of at least one time in the past year when there were rumors of a Marian image at an underpass, so it gave me even more reason.

I should clarify that I have no doubts that Mary appeared at Fatima and Lourdes, and that she very well may be casting her image in Moline for the edification of the faithful -- but I can't help but have a knee-jerk chuckle reaction to these stories. I probably shouldn't have such a reaction, because the people that find the images of Mary on trees or Jesus in a tortilla are among the simplest and most earnest souls in the world (people whose childlike faith and love will probably put them in heaven far ahead of me).

And sure enough, look who found the image in this story:

The first to notice such an image was Abraham Handel, the 5-year-old son of Larry and Andrea Handel, members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in nearby Silvis.

On the night of March 17, the Handels were at the riverfront to find a piece of driftwood to adorn a box for a newly purchased pet turtle. As Larry Handel went to the river, Abraham -- who was wearing a parish sweatshirt with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe as he sat in the car -- exclaimed to his mother: "Look at that lady, she looks like the one on my shirt."

Mrs. Handel also saw the image on the bridge pillar, and told her husband.

"I said 'Mother Mary,'" recalled Mr. Handel to The Catholic Post on Tuesday. "I could see her, too."

The story also says that the spot has become a place of prayer and popularity:

A front page story and photo in the Moline Dispatch on Saturday, March 25, resulted in hundreds of onlookers that evening. Television coverage and more news stories followed, with others saying they, too, saw what appeared to be Mary in the oval glow.

Keeping your kids Catholic

This article, which centers around a presentation given by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, appeared in the Catholic Explorer of the Diocese of Joliet, Ill.: Theologian urges Kankakee faithful to keep kids Catholic

Among his advice:

Describing a technique that he and his wife, Susan, have employed in their home over the years to help their children “bond with the church,” D’Ambrosio encouraged the parents gathered to regularly invite clergymen, religious sisters or “any adults who are really living their faith” into their homes for dinner. The examples of people totally devoted to the faith underscores the goodness of the Catholic Church, he said. In the meantime, witnessing the lives of these individuals and their inspirational deeds could stir the young people to pursue religious vocations in the future. He revealed that his two eldest sons are currently pondering the notion of pursuing the priesthood.

Meanwhile, he suggested that parents and others surround their children with books and movies that explore the themes of right and wrong. He cited “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” as prime examples of current films that emphasize the triumphs of good over evil. “There is so much doctrine in those movies.” Offering spiritually charged musical selections is also an established method for grabbing the interest of young people at Masses, he added.

Good advice -- though I don't have any young ones yet, it's simple things like dinner with friends and good books that really help to keep my faith alive (outside of the sacraments, of course).

Youth trip to Biloxi

Right now more than 100 youth from around the archdiocese are participating in a weeklong spring break mission trip to Biloxi, MS, to help rebuild the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina -- and they are going with help from the funds that the archdiocese collected last year for relief efforts.

One of the chaperones on the trip -- Katie Berger -- also does freelance work for The Criterion and is sending back photos and news (and possibly video) each day that is being posted on our special blog devoted to the trip: www.archindy.org/biloxi

Be sure to check it out -- these young people are making a significant sacrifice to help people who need it.