Helping Others

One of my pet peeves is how many people expect others to take care of everything so they don't have to.  It does not matter if it is a club sport or a school activity.  These activities are always looking for help because so many parents won't take the time to get involved.  What kind of message is that sending to their children?  That they are too important or too busy to be bothered by it.  We need to set the right example for our children and for other adults.  While I was opening some mail today I came across a bible quote that I had forgotten about but have tried to live by.  The quote is Mark 10:45 - For even The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.

Start of Lent 2014

Today is the start of Lent and I have decided to make some changes for Lent that will get me to spend more time offline and rely less on technology.  I am a big fan of Technology and I spend more time than I should checking things like Facebook and Twitter.  I have decided to give up Facebook and Twitter for Lent.  This won't be any easy thing for me to do.  I do enjoy interacting with friends on Facebook but think that going without it for this time will help me focus on other things.  Twitter is also something that i will miss.  I follow quite a few people for announcements on programs that I use and find some interesting things there.

Lent is not all about giving things up though.  I am also using the time to focus more on how I treat people and and what kind of choices that I make in my life.  I am like everyone else in that I am not perfect.  I try to be a good person and make good choices but there are some times that I do or say things that I am not really proud of and I want to do that less.

Michelle's Goodbye

Today I attended a Funeral Service for a Family Friend and it was very difficult.  Michelle was my age and has three kids.  It's really not fair that she won't be around for them as they grow up.  Matt has a challenge ahead of him and I feel so bad for him.  He was so in love with his wife and there is not enough of that these days and it sucks that his time with her was cut short.  Matt I will be praying for you and the kids. I know that you are mad at God and don't want to talk to him anymore. All I can say is there are a bunch of us praying for you and someday you will be able to talk to him again.

This song was played at Michelle's service and I think of her and her family every time I hear it now

Start of Lent

This Lent I am making a concerted effort to focus on things that will make my life better.  I am going to try and make it to Mass more often and to concentrate on making changes that will improve my personal and professional life.  Father Pat made a good point at Mass last night during his Homily.  Lent really is a time to refocus on things that we want to make better.  There is a certain assumption that you have the foundation for whatever you want to make better but you are just not satisfied with where that aspect of your life is currently.  I will be the first to admit that I do not make Mass every week.  Too often I let other things get in the way and don't make the effort that I should.  I want to change that.  It's an important part of my life and I need to make time for it.  That in turn will help me make better choices in my life overall as I feel better about my faith which is the foundation for everything else I do.

Disappointed in the Catholic Church Leadership

I saw an article in the news this morning that discussed how the Vatican had recalled it's ambassador to Ireland recently after it had received criticism of it's handling of sexual abuse claims in Ireland. This is very disappointing. I know that the majority of the Clergy of the Catholic Church are dedicated and faithful to their vows. This kind of behavior by the leadership of the Church does not help with the problems that have been plaguing the Church for years. They have to get over this perception of protecting the reputation of the Church and worry about protecting the people and helping victims. The victims of abuse have to be more important than any reputation.

Part of the article discusses a confidential letter written to the Irish Bishops from a representative of the Vatican. In that letter they discuss how they are concerned that the policy of mandatory reporting of abuse allegations to authorities may conflict with Canon Law. I am sorry but I have to disagree with the person that wrote that letter. When a member of the Clergy abuses someone they are committing a criminal act and they should be treated as such. The church can deal with them after they get out of jail if they ever do.

Married Priests?

This article from the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel Website talks about the Archdiocese of Milwaukee getting it's first Married Priest. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=776571 I read the article and find it disturbing.  Why is ok for someone who is a married Minister in another faith to decide to convert to Catholicism and they can be ordained as a priest but that anyone is Catholic already can only become a priest if they decide to pursue that avenue before getting married?  Even Deacons can only be married if they were married before they became a Deacon. Let me clarify my point here.  I don't have a problem with this married priest coming to our diocese.  I think that the entire restriction from having married priests is wrong.  In the article they explain how this is allowed and in it they quote Pope Paul as saying that celibacy is not required by the nature of the priesthood.  It is a redical sign of commitment but it is not essential.  So if one Pope in the past has said that it is not a requirement then why is the Catholic Church so against allowing this when it would probably help our priest shortage around the world?