Where do you get your NEWS from?

It has been awhile since I have blogged.  I have been busy and outside as much as I can, now that winter and our rainy Spring is over.  It is now one of the first days of summer and like everyone else I am looking forward getting together with Family and Friends.  In my family each year we look forward to the "Gatherin' at the River"... the St. Lawrence River that is.  Each year on, or very close to July Fourth, my Mom, my 7 brothers and sisters, their Families, and their families, Friends and others get together at my sister's summer Home on the St. Lawrence River near Clayton, NY.  For those of you not familiar with that area; it is the Thousand Islands Region and only about 8 miles from the 'Thousand Islands Bridge'.  In early June my sister Mary usually asks me to send out the yearly NEWS BULLETIN about the 'Gatherin'  Most people get it by email, others by snail mail, and yet others by the good old fashioned 'word of mouth' ... I like the personal touch myself.  Unfortunately many people are not real good about returning RSVPs, so i wonder... did they get the news?  I KNOW i sent it to them!  I know Ido my best to make sure to TELL them what's happening! Did they think it was junk mail?  Did they just not want to bother?  HOW do they get their other news?  DO they expect me to call their local TV and radio stations to send them a personal LIVE invitation?  Oh well... hopefully the 'word of mouth' thing still works well enough.  They all know that I send these 'invites' out!  Its been happenin' for YEARS! Are they just taking it for granted and not listening or reading my 'bulletins' any longer?

I'm beginning to feel like the Catholic Church.  No one is listening to me any more.  For so long, for CENTURIES, the Church has been the voice for Human Rights, social justice, Faith , and morality.  Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case any more.  NOW we let CNN, FOX, MSNBC, CBS, and ABC and the rest of our politically charged MEDIA to be the 'go to guys' for ALL of our Information.  No longer do we look to the Church for direction or context ... we look to the pundants, Politicians, and OUR FAVORITE TV NEWs 'PERSONALITIES' for what ever we think is relative.  The key word there, is RELATIVE.  WHERE do you get your news from?  DO you watch only a certain Channel for ALL your news,  Do you ever watch or read opposing Views or Networks?  Most of us TRY to do that -ocassionally.  We read and watch the 'republican slanted', or the liberal slanted, or the Democratic slanted, or the Conservative slanted, papers, magazines, and news shows.  BUT, do you every look to news sources with the view from YOUR 'Church's Slant'?  IF NOT, WHY NOT?  I would say 95% or more do not- EVER! Do you think I'm right?  Do you as a Catholic know what 'Zenit' is?  How about CNS? How about 'The World Over Live'?  Do you know what your own Diocesan Newspaper is called?  The Diocese of Ogdensburg's paper is called 'The North Country Catholic'.

Right now in NY State our Legislature is debating, scheming, discussing, lobbying, and ordering it's members to consider legalizing Same Sex Marriage as a Gay Right or Human Rights Issue.  I just heard it WILL be coming up for a Vote, probably tomorrow.  I am sure you have heard.... it's been on EVERY NEWS channel!  MOST, if not ALL those channels, except ETWN, not only support Legalizing Gay Marriage... they are SILENCING anyone who might oppose it!  What these Network Media stations are not telling you is the slurs, the insults, the lies and yes... even the Death threats that Senators opposing this legislation are receiving right along with any MINISTER, Priest, Bishop, or Cardinal that might also speak out against it.  They are told that they as 'Chruch' should not FORCE their VIEWS on the rest of society.  YET, they do not recognize that 75 to 80% of New Yorkers do NOT support this legislation AT ALL!  They don't tell us this for one reason only.  They want to JAM their views down the throats of every New Yorker that holds the same definition of Marriage as all of humanity has for the past 6 thousand years or more.  Even the Natural laws of our great universe defines, supports and AFFIRMS that male and female are the building block of society.  Male and Female coming together as one to create a FAMILY.  NOT a man and man, not a woman and woman.  The Church has taught ONLY what has been known in the hearts and minds of EVERY HUMAN that ever Lived.  Marriage is between one man and one woman. ONLY with this combination can we build the BEST home for the CHILDREN of society. IT is this ONE COMBINATION of  HUMANs and ONLY this combination that is capable of creating a FAMILY which is the first, and most basic unit of our Society! If you believe in God... our FIRST CHURCH.

Tell me, have you every heard words like this on ANY one of the Network TV Channels? (other than EWTN's "World Over Live" news program?)  This explanation or Blog that i have written here, about Same Sex Marriage is VERY basic.  THERE will be COUNTLESS RAMIFICATIONS should this legislation be enacted.  Have you REALLY done your homework on this SUBJECT?  OR have you just been listening to what your FRIENDS say, YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR FAVORITE NEWS ENTERTAINMENT PERSONALITY, or Network has told you.  WHAT are your sources?  WHO is behind them?  WHO are their SPONSORS?  WHY do they sponsor them?  WHAT other programing does that Network have?  What do they 'preach' on their stations.  EVERYONE has an ANGLE... EVERYONE!  EVEN the CHURCH!  UNFORTUNATELY... they, the CHURCH, doesn't have the best connections in the MEDIA here in the USA.  And EWTN... well, lets face it.  Only People like me, that are labeled 'holy rollers' watch shows like 'The World Over Live', because I WANT TO KNOW ALL POINTS OF VIEW.  And guess what... EWTN and the COUNTLESS... CATHOLIC NEWS OUTLETS On the INTERNET and in PRINT are MUCH MORE OBJECTIVE and FACTUAL than FOX, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC will ever be!  IF you have never looked at the World, the US, your State, or you City through the lens of a Christian news source... you are NOT WELL INFORMED.  IF you CLAIM to be a CHRISTIAN... then you need to BE one!  EVERY network and media station knows all the important 'CHRUCH NEWS' websites and they watch them closely!  DO YOU?!  They watch them so they can counter them and marginalize them, or just plain lie to you about them, so they can convince you of their veiw on subject to meet their own politically charged agendas.  IF you have never looked at 'Zenit' or CNS (Catholic News Service) or the countless other CHRISTIAN NEWS sites... you are NOT well informed.  I CHALLENGE you to take the time... FREQUENTLY... to look at your Church's newspapers and Media Outlets.  YOU WILL see a different twist on almost EVERY GIVEN SUBJECT... but it will be the MOST PLAIN, OBJECTIVE, and SENSIBLE news you'll ever read. PLEASE give it some thought won't you?  Pray about it as well?

I would be AMISS, if I did not caution you about SOME of the Christian Websites out there.  Some are "a little TOO out there"...even for me.  :-)  So, please check out your own Church's websites... IF you are NY Catholic... that would be Zenit, the USCCB, NYSCC, CNS, EWTN, Catholic Online, ...  ALL the big ones.  Go to your church's website and read around to see who they use as news sources.  Check out their 'Links Page'.  Chances are... you will find the better ones referenced.  FINALLY... SUBSCRIBE to your own Diocese's NEWSPAPER... IF you are a NORTHERN NY CATHOLIC... that would be the North Country Catholic at: http://northcountrycatholic.org/  Don't just visit and use their website! SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT YOUR Church's PAPER.

Till Next time, May God Bless you and Keep you,
Blogger Bill.

The UN-itended Consequences

Re: Bishop Thomas J. Tobin warns Catholics On "Gay Marriage"


– “Abysmal” Catholic apathy must be overcome to oppose those who are
“fiercely determined” to impose homosexual “marriage,”  -Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island Thomas J. Tobin has warned. Reasserting Catholic teaching on sexual morality, he also said that same-sex “marriage” will endanger religious freedom.

All Christians of every denomination, not just Catholics need to wake up and educate themselves about the issues of Homosexuality and 'Gay' Marriage.  Media and society in general has been very good about telling us why ‘Gay Marriage’ should demand social acceptance and become Law. They have slowly over the past several decades 'desensitized' us into believing in their agenda. We need to once again, look at this issue with open minds and re-evaluate where this is all taking us! Then after careful examination of both sides, we need to take responsible action and make ourselves heard by our Representatives in Local, State, and Federal government.  IF 'gay marriage' becomes the Law of the land, there will be untold UN-INTENDED consequences.

Our kids and young adults do not realize that they have been, and are being (dare I say) 'railroaded' by the ‘gay agenda’ in our public schools.  Heck, most of their parents don’t realize it either.  With the lack of say that parents have in the curriculum of our public schools, it is obvious why so many of our kids and young adults are convinced that we should all be tolerant of the gay lifestyle.  I can be tolerant of their standards, so as long as THEY can be tolerant of my standards.  However, the lines between tolerance, moral character, and truth (unless it is 'relative' truth) are quickly fading away. Like religion and God himself, moral character and ‘real’ TRUTH is no longer taught in our schools. Society has convinced so many of our kids and MANY adults, that this lifestyle and/or any sexual behavior is 'relative'.  It is the mentality that "if I'm OK, and you're OK... then it must be OK." We are being desensitized and methodically stripped of all moral character in our society. We as a society need to do some serious RE-EVALUATION as to where this 'Gay Agenda" is taking us. (Yes, I am repeating myself… and for good reason!)

These activists have always been outspoken, very assertive, and pro active in their 'cause' for  changing the hearts and minds of all society. They are now attempting, and are often succeeding in trying to make us all conform to their disordered  thought processes.  Do you remember that less than 60 years ago homosexuality was against the law and considered sodomy, a felony offense?  By 2002, 36 states had repealed all sodomy laws or had them overturned by court rulings. NOW these activists are seeking too not only change our minds, they are seeking to change the oldest institution of the human race. They want to redefine for all persons of all times, the definition of Marriage. In doing so, I am sure that if they could they would convince us that they could change the NATURAL LAW in which 'marriage' has it's firm roots.  Marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman who LOVE one another so much, that in nine months the two become three. This is the natural law, that is an intrinsic part of humanity and cannot be denied, nor should it be EVER be redefined by making a law that gives a group of individuals the right to include themselves in a way so foreign to the ‘eternal’ sacrament of marriage and family.  Heck.... next thing you know... a son will want to marry his Mother.  I have actually seen news clips of a man wanting to marry his DOG!

Are you aware of what will happen if this law legalizing ‘gay marriage’ is imposed on our society?  The Authors of our great Constitution did not intend for the laws and courts of this great country to be used to strip  MORALITY, truth, God, the Word of God, and religion from the public forum.  In fact they are the ones who inscribed the words that we “… are endowed by their (our) CREATOR….” as the very basis of Our GREAT Society. Wake Up America!  If those who support the ‘gay agenda’ are successful here is just a short list of the unintended consequences:

1.    Every Christian, Jew, and Muslim or any other person of faith who truly supports sound theology will be branded a ‘bigot’,  should they disagree with the law.

2.    Every Church and Faith based organization may be, or eventually will be, required to employ someone even if their lifestyle in not compatible with the moral standards of the faith.

3.    Churches (etc.) will be obliged to marry same sex couples whether they want to or not.

4.    Christian adoption agencies will be forced out of business if they do not permit  Gay couples to adopt from their agencies. (this is already law in many states) Recently in ENGLAND there was a heterosexual Married Couple who were refused permission to Foster Children because they refused to educate or allow ‘gay morality’ to be encouraged or taught in their home  (check link below)
5.   Preachers of the Gospel and faith based books like the Bible and Koran, who speak against homosexuality are liable and will be arrested.

6.    Bed and Breakfast operators will be held liable if they do not allow  homosexual couples into their homes.  (There are states that have pending lawsuits on this issue as I write this blog.)

I only share these few here, but there are DOZENS and DOZENS more for you to consider.  Go and Google it and get caught up with what is happening in our society.  For them, it's all about the “ME” and is never about “US”, society as a whole. 

I ask you all to pray for four things.

1.   Pray that God will let truth and moral character prevail as the Church and WE all strive to do our part.

2.  Pray for those who author this 'disordered thinking' and agenda  -that God will change their hearts & minds.

3.   Pray for Our Country, and our elected officials, that they will lead us and return to the Faith of our Fathers where we will once again embrace the virtues of faith in God, truth, and the moral standard.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Until next time,
May God Bless and Keep you.

Check out these other articles that demonstrate what we have to look forward to if 'gay' marraige' becomes the Law of the land  here in the US. (some of which are ALREADY law)

Christian advisor loses gay adoption case tribunal

Christian preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin

Christian foster couple lose 'homosexuality views' case

Gay-rights opponents have human rights too, Vatican delegate reminds UN

Law Forces Christian Adoption Groups to Close

Christian Doctor Loses Position over Gay Adoption View

Catholic adoption charity loses gay exemption bid

Sex Abuse IS NOT Exclusive To The Catholic Chruch

As a Roman Catholic, I am very conscious of the shame that the sex abuse scandal has brought to the Catholic Church.  In this recent article from the NY Times dated March 12, 2011, the reporter brings to the written page a "REVELATION" of UNTHINKABLE proportions.  This is an extensive article (more than 6 typed pages long) and was well researched and presented.  I know there will be those who say that as a Catholic I am trying to divert attention from the Church's major scandal to the much bigger scandal in the public sector.  However, they must also realize that no matter where this kind of behavior is found it MUST be rooted out and dealt with.  While the Church has brought shame upon herself because of the sex abuse scandal, I am also very aware of the extensive steps the church has done to prevent such abuse in the Future.  Unfortunately the public sector and our government has done absolutely nothing for the past 12 years about the extensive abuses found  in these group homes, by counselors, hospitals, and especially in our public schools where the problem is worse than any other sector of society.

Charol Shakeshaft Ph.D., a scholar from Hofstra University completed a report  commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education, in compliance with the 2002 "No Child Left Behind Act" signed into law by President Bush. Between 6 and 10 percent of public school children across the country have been sexually abused or harassed by school employees and teachers.  It is estimated that roughly 290,000 students experienced some sort of physical sexual abuse by a school employee from a single decade—1991-2000.  That compares with about five decades of  cases of abuses found in the church by clergy and religious.  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a report on the nature and scope of their abuse problem, found almost 14,000 cases of abuse by  about 4,000 priests and deacons since 1950 -2000.  That is 290,000 over a NINE-YEAR period in the public schools vs. 14,000 over a FIFTY-YEAR period in the Catholic Church. Shakeshaft commented that such figures led her to  contend: “…the physical sexual abuse of students in the schools is likely more than 100 times the abuse by priests.”  (To learn more Google: Charol Shakeshaft PhD. or go to the links at the end of this article.) 

I am also just as outraged by the level of media coverage that these articles have had -- or should I say - LACK of coverage.  The media coverage of the Catholic priest abuse scandal is nearly COAST TO COAST and on every major network.  Yet, whether they just want to turn a blind eye, or they are just anti-Catholic, or are maybe they are just too afraid of the Public worker/teacher Labor Unions …. There is NOTHING but DEAD SILENCE when it comes to the problem in our public schools.   Even though I am Catholic, I am still an AMERICAN CITIZEN!  WHERE is the public OUTCRY!?  WHERE is the OUTRAGE!?!?  AS a parent, I DO NOT have a problem if a priest who is guilty of sex abuse is removed and or jailed.  I am also VERY concerned when there is NOTHING being done to protect the VICTIMS of these  CRIMES by these public sector Perpetrators!

I hope you read the articles linked to this post.  Look for yourself and learn the facts.  Then write your state and federal representatives to insist on action.  Thank you for listening.  We must all be a part of the solution or we must confess to being a part of the problem.

Abused and Used At State-Run Homes

Sex Abuse by Teachers Said Worse Than Catholic Church

Until next time,
May God Bless and Keep You

The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Do You Dread It?

This Lent the bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, Bishop Terry R. LaValley has asked that parish priests set aside March 26, 2011 as a day for the Sacrament of Reconciliation /Penance.  He has asked them to schedule additional time for the faithful to fulfill their yearly minimum requirement.  As Catholics, we are required to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once per year during the season of Lent.

Are you AFRAID to go to Confession?  Are you SCARED what the priest might THINK about you?  Well, I would like to share with you, my experience of going to “confession” for the first time in OVER 25 YEARS.  I was born and raised Catholic but by the time I was 26, I had left the Church and joined a protestant evangelical church.  Shamefully, I actually tried to get other Catholics to go with me; but that is another story for a later time.  I must also admit that over the years I often confessed that I would NEVER, EVER, EVER, go back to the Catholic Church. Did I say ‘never’? Well, we have all heard that before… “Never say never.”… Right?  After about 15 years in the protestant church, I began to have doubts about their beliefs and slowly attended church less and less until I just stopped going altogether.  Then I had some life changing and dramatic events in my life.  As you might expect, I looked to the only place that I knew I could find hope and help.  I turned to God.  

Although this process took a year or so, I ultimately found myself at
the doors of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.  BOY was I scared!  I was shaking so, as I opened that door and went in.  NO, the roof did not cave in… but I did look up to make sure.   It was Saturday and I learned that confessions were being heard at this time. I approached the confessional; still shaking with my heart racing I entered the box. I was surprised when I saw that I had the option of sitting right in front of the priest. “OH NO! I’m DEAD!” I thought.  “I gotta look him in the eye? OH GOD!  WHAT have I done!?” I almost turned around and walked out I was so scared. “What is this man going to THINK of me when I tell him that I tried to lead Catholics away from the Church!?”  Then, into my head popped… “JUST DO IT”… like Nike says, “JUST DO IT!” And I did.  I sat down RIGHT in front of him.

He was reading a book and as he set it down, he lifted his eyes to me
with a wide and sincere smile. I immediately turned my eyes to the floor. I
just could not look at him. He extended his hand and I looked up at his eyes as we shook hands. I then introduced myself.  Then I froze!  I couldn’t speak.  MY lips and mouth were like a parched desert! “HOW am I going to get through this?!” I thought.  He sensed my anxiety and said in a soft voice, “It’s OK, just relax. Take a deep breath and relax.” I tried, but was not very successful.  I tried to speak and uttered a few words stumbling over them.  Then I finally got it out… “Bless me father for I have sinned, it has been over 25 years since my last confession...”  He said with a great big smile… “WELLLLLLL….” (At that instant I thought, ‘OH GOD… here it comes!")…. WEL-COMMMME Back!”  I was pleasantly surprised and so relieved. This priest was not like Monsignor Tierney whom I once feared as a child.  Maybe this isn’t going to be as hard as I thought.  I must say that as I began to share of my thoughts, my words and deeds of the last quarter century… he listened so intently.  He was sincere, genuinely concerned, loving, and encouraged me as we talked.  He made me feel so comfortable, and he even helped me with the prayers. He was truly lifting me up.  The Love I felt was amazing. "This is what Church should be like" I thought to myself. After he shared the story of the prodigal son and we discussed it briefly. He then prayed the words of absolution and my eyes welled up with tears of joy.  The BURDEN off my shoulders was enough to make me want to SOAR!  It was then I remembered one of the best things about confession… the RELIEF of Guilt and the JOY of being reconciled to God and his Church.   Once again, I was assured that I was once again in ‘right relationship” with my God.  I saw Father chuckle, as he noticed me let out a HUGE sigh of relief.  As I got up to leave, Father LaValley said to me. “Welcome home, we're SO glad to have you back.” I exited  the confessional with tears in my eyes.  I now go to confession at least once per month, whether I really need to or not.  I sit before the Blessed Sacrament before I go, and pray, collecting my thoughts, and reviewing my sins ... as well as my sins of omission. 


I was in that confessional no more than 5 minutes and I didn’t have to pay a dime. Going to confession regularly keeps me in right relationship with God, his Church, and especially with MYSELF!   Now I  go and CELEBRATE the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly.  The Sacrament is SOOOO precious to me ... "Priceless"!  I think today, the  Sacrament of Reconciliation is nothing like i remember.  Sometimes I actually look forward to going. There is GENUS in CATHOLICISM! -- People just don't know what they are missing!  It may be the best kept secret in the CHRUCH!!!

Please check your parish bulletin for the times when the Sacrament of
reconciliation is celebrated. During Lent I am sure you will find Penance Services, Parish Missions, Stations of the Cross, as well as extended times for confessions.  I encourage you …. Please go and celebrate this wonderful Sacrament, and do it often.  Jesus misses each one of us who are not in right relationship with him.  He wants us ALL to be the VERY BEST person that we can be, and he wants to give us the grace to do so.  One more thing... don’t worry about being embarrassed about your shortcomings.  I have heard several priests say… “There is nothing that you might tell me that I haven’t heard many times before.  You just aren’t that original!”  I am also sure that over time those coming into the confessional are just like people you might meet at work.  You know the face, but you don’t remember every detail of the conversations you’ve ever had with them.  They all seem to just blend into obscurity.   I truly beleive that God give his priests an additional special gift.  The gift to forget the sins of many... including mine.  Thank you Lord for the thought you put into the Sacraments... There is GENIUS in CATHOLOCISM! ( I know... i'm repeating myself again.)

Go and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week.  You KNOW that you will be glad you did.  In addition, going to confession may just make THIS celebration of the Feast of Easter the best you’ve had in years!

Until next time,
May God Bless and Keep You.

My First Post: Welcome!

I want to Welcome you, and Thank You for visiting my blog.  I hope and pray that this blog will include sound teaching as I share with you, my thoughts, dreams, frustrations, joys, and excitement as we journey together with our lived experiences.  It is my intention to share and discuss the topics of the day in light of Our Faith in Jesus Christ.  I am not a scripture scholar, I am not a priest, a deacon, nor do I belong to a religious order.  I am a simple Catholic who loves Almighty God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the Church he established more than 2000 years ago.  I like to think of myself as student of Sacred Scripture and the magisterial teaching of Mother Church.  It is important to me, to present material that is in line with the ‘orthodoxy’ of the Roman Catholic Church.  Should I stray from that, I hope that you will kindly correct me and lead me in the right direction. 

As I blog, I will not be afraid to address the hard topics.  These topics can cause great division.  IF we do NOT discuss them, we begin to make assumptions, ignore the facts, and mislead one another as we generate our own opinions.  That gives way to argument and division. I think that is why so many of us in the past have left the church.  Like so many, I did not make a sincere investigation of the faith before I went on to another church.  I did not look at the facts … nor did I look at any of the rich history of the Catholic faith.  We need to look at that history, learn the facts, and discuss them, digest them, PRAY over them, and make sound judgments on them in light of Scripture and Church Teaching.  That is what the magisterium has done throughout the ages.  I thank God that unlike the very short history of 200+ years that we have as a Nation, we have over 2000+ years of history in the Catholic Church.  That history stretches from Pope Benedict XVI all the way back to the Apostle Peter.  Yes, it is a history of the good, the bad, and the ugly.  A history that includes a string of imperfect men who only by the guidance of the Holy Spirit retained the Faith of the Chruch throughout the ages.  Remember, Christ said, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Do you believe that?  I do!  Contrary to what some protestants, journalist, and atheists believe, Christ established his Church with Peter… the rock!  He gave him the Keys of the Kingdom and Peter has passed on those keys and the authority that comes with them, from generation to generation.  The Catholic Church has been in plain view and will remain so until our Lord returns at the end of the age. Thanks be to God!

Again, thank you for visiting my blog and  I look forward to sharing with you.  I hope you will return again and join in future discussion by posting comments.  I welcome your thoughts.

May God bless and keep you.