David Ancell's Virtual Home

Light, If Any, Blogging Mode
I hate to keep doing this, but it looks like we will have light, if any, blogging this week. I’m back to my old business again.

However, I want to leave you with some things to read.

First, check out the latest Deal Hudson article on Catholic Exchange about Voice of the Faithful. What is the deal with these guys, anyway? Don’t forget to pray for their conversion.

Second, I’ve been reading Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s From Scandal to Hope. It’s an excellent thesis on what has gone wrong and what can be done. I do wish I could have pulled something more out of it as to what I can do, but it’s a great book. Fr. Groeschel takes on the whole problem and its root, not just the prevailing symptom.

October is Respect Life Month. Today, members of my parish were part of the Life Chain on a busy corner of Memphis. It is a time to pray for the protection of the unborn. It is a peaceful, prayerful demonstration. Every day, abortionist commit nothing less than a horrible deed of violence. We respond by peacful prayers of petition and repentance. It was pretty hot out there today, and I offered the discomfort in reparation for the evil done in our nation.

On a practical level, I can see horrors caused by the legalized killing if the current trend continues. Instead of coming up with innovations to help the unborn who may have disabilities, the doctor can simply pressure the parents into abortion. Instead of providing palliative care for the terminally ill, only a lethal injection may be offered. If these seem far-fetched to you, please note that it may take no more than a few major insurance companies making a decision not to support the care of those who are difficult and/or expensive to care for to make this a reality. The greed and consumerism in our society have reached in extreme. You can see this in the corporate scandals of the day.

However, as horrific as the above may be, the eternal consequences are even worse. Who knows how many people could be buring in hell because of contraception, abortion, euthanasia, or embryonic stem cell research? I do not know; I hope no one, but as much as is going on, it is difficult to fathom that no one is. We must pray for the conversion of all who believe in or are involved in abortion.

How many saints, expert scientists, artists, musicians has the world lost? Many of these could have been great missionaries who would have saved countless souls.

I couldn’t resist taking a picture of this in Nashville. This was inspired by a couple of coworkers of mine.



Oh, and do take a look at last Thursday’s post again. I’ve got the Chili’s parking sign scanned and posted.

A day or two ago, I received my October 2002 issue of This Rock magazine from Catholic Answers. I’m a big fan of Catholic Answers, and this has got to be the best issue that I have seen. It’s like God intervened with the staff just for me.

The articles include such things as why being faithful isn’t the same as being rigid. The author was once told that he was seeing everything as black and white because he insisted on following the Church’s teaching. I’ve had a similar experience though not by a priest. While it’s true that not everything is black and white, it isn’t true to say that nothing is black and white.

There’s an open letter by Rosalind Moss on the document issues by the U.S. Bishops’ committee on evangelization of Jews (or lack thereof). There’s also a refutation of a Jack T. Chick tract. David Mills also writes about the Holy Spirit using the “rules” of faith to domesticate us. Turn to the question and answer section, and you’ll get an excellent treatment of the question of whether or not athiests can go to Heaven.

If you’ve been reading my blog, you probably know that Catholic Exchange is one of my favorite sites. Once again there are some great letters. I admire the people who grow in their faith despite the Catholic ministry. I didn’t until I got away from that place. In fact, although I was not aware of it, I think I was in the midst of no small amount of confusion. I pray for the revitalization of campus ministry. People go there hoping to learn something about the Catholic faith and are often presented with a counterfeit.

Mark Shea’s dialogue with another reader is also well worth reading. There’s not much more I can say to that.

I just got back from Nashville tonight, and I am really tired. I won’t let it stop me from blogging. There’s a Chili’s near Vanderbilt University that has a parking garage under it. There’s a sign in the garage that says “Parking Chili’s Customers Only other cars will be crushed and melted.” Either they are extremely serious, or someone has a strange since of humor.

Once again, we have another great Amy Welborn article on Catholic Exchange. Those of you with small children will likely appreciate her analogy.

I am grieved to see what has happened to ruin the reputation of Gerard Serafin (see below and on his blog; his name was posted on the “list” of the Archdiocese of Baltimore). On top of that, there’s some guy who won’t even post his contact information making downright mean-spirited comments.

We don’t know what he did, and he has a right not to tell us. As far as anyone can see, he has repented and lived in holiness. He has also suffered much. Remember that St. Augustine was first a great sinner. Let’s pray for him to be able to forgive and to bear this cross. Let’s pray that his reputation can be restored.

You’ve got to read this. I feel sorry for anyone who falls for it.

Really, it bothers me to see stuff like this. Haven’t people figured out that anything that is spread through e-mail is most likely a hoax? Besides, if the anti-virus detector can’t detect the worm, why can it detect that “imitation worm”?

Ok, so I guess I’m making up for being gone last week. Well, next week will be light blogging, too. In fact, it may be a while before I’m back to my old self again.