(CNN, June 27, 2002) -- A federal appeals court panel in San Francisco declared Wednesday that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional and unfit for the classroom. The justices say the phrase "one nation under God" amounts to a government establishment of religion, which is expressly forbidden by the First Amendment.

Speaking at the G-8 summit in Canada, President Bush said that the ruling was "out of step with the history and traditions of America," and said it highlighted the need for "common-sense judges that understand that our rights are derived from God."  Continue Full CNN Article >>>

Religious Symbols Disappearing
Fox News Channel looks at the many ways the principles and symbols of Christianity are disappearing from public life and examines the causes and consequences.  Be sure to watch this online video.

• Town Says 'No' to Nativity Scene, 'Yes' to Menorah, Dec 18, 2003
• Mom Sues School to Allow Nativity Scene, Dec 5, 2003
• 'Ten Commandments' Justice Expelled, Nov 13, 2003

Belated Congratulations to Fr. Brian Mullady, OP, for his published work: "Homilies on the Liturgy of the Sundays and Feasts" for the month of December.
Homiletic & Pastoral Review (Nov 2003) Vol. CIV, No. 2.

Crooked Hearts Straightened
2nd Sunday of Advent, Dec. 7

Loving Obedience (page down)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8

Decking the Soul
3rd Sunday of Advent, Dec. 14

The Poor Manger
4th Sunday of Advent, Dec. 21

Light Into Darkness
Christmas: Midnight Mass, Dec. 25

My Father's House
The Feast of the Holy Family, Dec. 28

• Expanding for U Project
  Includes designs, $3.1 million in costs, volunteers, development, and foundation of support.

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• Guide to Advocacy
  Washington Catholic Conference has a nice guide that can be adapted to your home state. This is a "how to" for interacting with your elected officials.  Briefly covers Catholic social teaching, letters to the editor, phone calls, face to face, and more.
• Your Catholic Voice | Advisory Board
  YCV is a non-partisan independent Catholic lay organization dedicated to motivating, educating and activating Catholic citizens for political and social participation. Its focus is on issues springing from the four pillars of Dignity of Human Life, Primacy of the Family, Human Freedom, and Human Solidarity.
   
• Catholics Ordered to Offer Birth Control
  SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP), March 1, 2004 Posted: 7:23 PM EST
  Today's headline is a prime example of why Catholics need to be involved in society and politics.  This AP article states, "But the [California] Supreme Court ruled that the [Catholic] charity is not a religious employer because it offers such secular services as counseling, low-income housing and immigration services to people of all faiths, without directly preaching Catholic values.  In fact, Justice Kathryn Werdegar wrote that a "significant majority" of the people served by the charity are not Catholic. The court also noted that the charity employs workers of differing religions."  This kind of judicial action seems to pressure Catholics to unjustly discriminate or force conversion, when the Church wants to help all of God's people.
  The California Catholic Conference responds.
   
• Faithful Citizenship (DomLife.org)
  Jude Siciliano, OP shares his preaching and comments on the US Bishops' Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility.

Certainly, then, the will of the people cannot, of itself, adequately legitimize government; immorality can be, and frequently is, popular. If we are to welcome the King of Kings and Lord of lords, we cannot pretend, as Pope Leo warned, that “all government is nothing more nor less than the will of the people.”

Full Article
"Telling It Like It Is: The Church's Social Teaching"

• Novice Tour 2004
  January-February 2004
   
• Vocation Weekend
  February 13-15
   
• Benicia 150th Anniversary
  Reception following Mass, March 4, 2004.

Find out more about Fr. Brian by visiting his profile, and explore his other 44 radio and television appearances.

Be sure to checkout our full Development Site.

New Church Document
Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum on certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist  APRIL 23, 2004

• Vatican Document Targets Abuses Against Eucharist: Reiterates and Explains Key Norms for Worthy Celebration and Reception.
   
• Cardinal Arinze's Presentation on Instruction Regarding the Eucharist Here is the presentation, made today by Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, of the instruction "Redemptionis Sacramentum," on matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Eucharist.
   
• No Communion for Pro-Abortion Politicians, Says Cardinal Arinze.
   
• USCCB President Welcomes New Instruction on the Eucharist WASHINGTON (April 23, 2004) — Belleville Bishop Wilton D. Gregory.
   
• BCL Newsletter from the USCCB Committee on the Liturgy.
   
• Thirty Questions on Redemptionis Sacramentum for Diocesan Liturgy and Communication Personnel.
   
• How Many Drafts?
   
• PowerPoint Presentation 7.09 MB (26 slides) PPT Format.  For best results download it and then view it, rather than opening it directly.

What is apparent from theology and the writings of the saints is that souls that enter hell are not somehow neglected ones, who fall into mortal sin through human weakness, and become helpless and unable to turn back to God.  They are not unfortunate ones who, through tragic circumstances, find themselves in serious sin, and enter hell by default rather than by actively rejecting God.  Rather the faith is clear: people enter hell because they choose it.

Solemn Liturgy
June 13, 10:00 AM

Corpus Christi Monastery
215 Oak Grove Avenue
Menlo Park, CA  94025-3272
nunsmenlo@aol.com

Pope John Paul II Addresses the Pacific Northwest: "Religious, Educational and Charitable Institutions … From the Heart of the Church"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 27, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the address John Paul II gave Thursday to visiting U.S. bishops from the ecclesiastical provinces of Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Anchorage, Alaska.

While catechetical programs for children and young people, especially in relation to sacramental preparation, remain essential, increasing attention must be paid to the particular needs of older adolescents and adults. (no.4)

Dominican parishes and campus ministries of the Pacific Northwest compliment other ecclesial institutions as centers of faith, learning, and worship.  This short address offers one the opportunity to reflect on how we foster a Catholic identity, advocate for the elderly, poor, and sick, and give priority to the "Church's teaching, particularly on respect for human life, marriage and family, and the right ordering of public life." (no.2)

Vocation in Flannery O’Connor’s
“A Good Man Is Hard to Find” and “A View of the Woods” by Br. Robert King, OP

If these stories show “the action of grace in a territory largely held by the devil,” then part of that grace is the vocation to follow Christ.

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• Human Security Threatened Worldwide, Former President Tells Religious Leaders
   
• What Can Religions Bring to a Globalizing World?

• Br. Andrew James F. Sloan, OP

• Br. John Joseph "Jack" Snyder, OP

• Fr. Paul Mary Robert Starrs, OP

• Fr. John Edward Louis Sullivan, OP

• Fr. Kevin Albert Wall, OP

• Fr. Hubert Francis Ward, OP

• Dedication weekend photos.
• Liturgical furnishings as rendered by the architect.
• Worship space.

This particular Sunday was not different from any other summer Sunday at Nuestra Señora del Rosario parish in Mexicali—capital of the state of Baja California in Mexico. It was scorching hot, with people milling about, finding shelter in a bit of shade...