Several posts include news about the upcoming “Year of the Priest.”
DC Board of Elections Refuses Vote on”Same-Sex Marriage”Issue
The DC Catholic Conference issued a statement today on the rejection by the Board of Elections on a Marriage Referendum. Such a vote would put the issue before the voters of the District of Columbia so that their voice could be heard in this matter. Here follows the Statement followed by a comment by yours truly in red.
DC Catholic Conference Statement on DC Marriage Referendum Rejection
The residents of the District of Columbia deserve to be heard, particularly on an issue as important as redefining marriage. Last month, the District of Columbia City Council voted to recognize same-sex marriages in the nation’s capital in an amendment process that prevented constituents from having a voice.
Today’s announcement by the DC Board of Elections and Ethics to deny a referendum on this issue has once again disenfranchised the residents of our city. The DC Catholic Conference is deeply disappointed by the decision to deny voters a voice.
Civil governments have recognized marriage throughout time as between a man and woman because of its unique purpose: to form a stable unit where children are created and raised with the complementary gifts of father and mother. This stability for children in turn forms a stable foundation for society.
As part of an organization that serves thousands of children and families throughout this city, it would be our hope that residents be given an opportunity to be heard on an issue with widespread implications for children and families. The DC Catholic Conference will continue to strongly advocate for the long-standing and proper definition of marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
The DC Catholic Conference represents the public policy interests of the Archdiocese of Washington on issues affecting the District of Columbia.
This is a second blow to the the ability of citizens to express their views in this matter. As the Statement above notes, last month the DC Council railroaded this measure through and refused to allow citizens to testify in a significant matter before the City Council. Now the DC Board of elections has once again refused the general populace a chance to be heard. Some will argue that we cannot simply run everything by plebiscite. This is true but this issue impacts on the most basic elements of any nation or civilzation: marriage and the family. This is not simply a referendum on which contractor to choose to pave the raods. This is about marriage and the family.
Advocates of the “new morality” will likely cheer this decision but they should examine their cheerfulness. They have long marched under the banners of tolerance and freedom. Now many of them wish merely to impose their views by judicial fiat and will not tolerate dissent or even discussion. Whatever the motives of the members of the Board elections were I do not know. But no one should cheer a silencing of the voice of the people in this matter whether it is by refusing to hold hearings or refusing a referendum.
Sermon for Corpus Christi – Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land
If I can be bold and post an mp3 version of my own sermon. The title of the message is “Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land” In the sermon is pondered that Jesus feeds us with his actual Body and Blood and is food for our journey across the desert of this world unto the promised land of heaven. In the Old Testament God fed the Israelites in the desert with manna and water from the rock (and the Rock was Christ – 1 Cor 10). Now as then Jesus is our manna and our drink. And just like the Israelites survived on that and would never have made it to the Promised Land without, so do we survive on our Manna, Jesus the Bread of Life and our water from the rock (his Precious Blood). Here is the talk:
Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land
Since I reference the old Spiritual Jesus is a Rock in the title, perhaps you would like to hear the song too. Here it is:
All of my sermons and talks are available at frpope.com or through iTunes.
You Are My God
Corpus Christi Reflection:
What Happened to the Church in Europe?
Here’s another Fr. Barron Video where he ponders the awful decline of the Church particularly in Europe. Does this merely mean that the Church has failed? Or is there more at work? Surely there are things we have done things that need correcting, but even when we do everthing we ought to do, there will still be a waxing and waning. Let me get out of the way and Let Fr. Barron speak.
Corpus Christi Sunday – The Bread of Life Discourse
Here is a powerful rendering of the Bread of Life Discourse in John 6. This excerpt is from the movie The Gospel of John The Movie is a worthy addition to your collection and the two volume CD is only $9.99 at Amazon. This clip captures the power of Jesus’ words and the reaction of crowd in the synagogue that morning.
A Rather Shocking Eucharistic Procession
The Diocese in Linz, (northern Austria) is infamous for liturgical strangeness. In a land of some of the world’s most beautiful rococo Churches liturgy has gone unhinged. If something is crazy, ugly or just plain illicit it is on display is this diocese. The latest sadness comes with a Eucharistic Procession held through the streets. Rather than use a traditional monstrance (see photo to the right) this particular parish nailed a rather large pita like lost to a stick and carried it through the streets; strange, ugly and unnecessarily provocative. Well, look for yourself.
Pope Benedict Summons Us To Faith In the Real Presence
The following report gives highlights of Pope Benedict’s Corpus Christi Homily along with other activities of that day, this past Thursday. The video is about a minute and a half. Give ear to the Pope’s exhortation to faith and prayer.