Forward Halt

A popular television commercial for a well-known insurance company shows a young woman having a conversation about the Internet while waiting for her date to arrive. She says they can’t put things on the Internet if they are not true. She also says her date is a French model she met on the Internet. As the scruffy-looking male approaches with a very American-sounding “bonjour” greeting, it becomes clearly evident he is no French model.

By now, Internet-savvy people know that most anything imaginable can appear in cyberspace. One must use extreme caution when discerning information from unknown sources. Unsolicited information is even more suspect. What many people apparently do not realize is that forwarded emails that would appear to support causes we strongly believe in, may not in fact be as they appear.

Over the years, I have developed a sense of cyber-smell, a sixth sense that is activated whenever a forwarded email gives off an odor of suspicion. Undated messages reporting recent events are always questionable since forwarded emails by their very nature never die. Especially suspicious are those who blame the biased news media as the reason you never heard of this event, and then try to shame you into forwarding it to everyone in your address book.

Such was the case last week when a local parishioner forwarded an “Unbelievable and shocking!” statement by “Father Juan Carlos Martos cmf Secretariat of PV Clarettiani Missionaries” showing a photo of hundreds of charred bodies lying in rows before bystanders in front of a dilapidated building. The caption said, “This is a brutal example of how far the struggle between muslims and catholics in Nigeria has reached.”

Emails to the parish webpage pass through me, and this particular parishioner floods our inbox almost daily with various forwarded messages she deems of interest. I confess that I usually delete anything with “Fwd” in the subject line, but this message also included a plea to our pastor to put this in the bulletin and preach on it. Knowing that she also sends them directly to our pastor, I thought it prudent to check the claims for accuracy since my sixth olfactory sensor went off when I read it.

The posting contained no date or particulars on the incident pictured, although our parishioner claimed it occurred near the end of January. The message goes on to criticize “Human Rights Organizations” for lack of action and the “(Spanish) Facebook Management for not allowing the poster to publish this graphic “as proof of the Holocaust that Christians have been suffering in Nigeria in the last ten years.” While Christians are being persecuted in predominately Muslim countries and media is selective about what they report, I could not believe a story of this magnitude would not make the American press. The end of the message urges everyone to “distribute this photo and its comments using all the media you have.”

I first checked Snopes.com, a well-known fact checker. Yes, I am aware of all the other forwarded messages claiming Snopes is biased. In any case, it is still a good place to start. I found nothing there. What I did find was this same story being circulated by numerous bloggers, most if not all Christian sources. Does that make the story true, or are they simply repeating their outrage at the same fictitious posting? None of these were mainstream news sources. Are they ignoring this tragic story or did it not even occur? Searching for the existence of Father Juan Carlos Marcos, nothing turned up apart from the numerous postings of his purported statement.

Digging a little deeper, I found numerous sites claiming this story is a hoax. The picture is real, but the photograph shows the aftermath of a tragic accident that occurred when a tanker truck overturned in the Democratic Republic of Congo in early July of 2010. The tanker exploded as villagers from Sangue were trying to take fuel from the ruptured tank. Over 300 were fatally burned in the fireball. So how do we know who is telling the truth here?

This story of Muslims burning Catholics really caught fire at the end of January 2013, but versions of it appear on the Internet much earlier. Furthermore, the same picture of burned bodies appears in 2010 with a story about the exploding tanker. Within a few minutes of Internet fact-checking, I was fairly certain this particular story of Muslims burning Catholics was fabricated.

I immediately replied to the parishioner with a link to a source pointing out the problem with the story. Fearful that our priest would tell the story from the pulpit, I also sent him a copy calling the story a hoax. The next day I received a reply from the parishioner saying she did not trust the hoax story and she accused me of believing anything, including msNBC. Ouch! I replied again with further evidence and she acknowledged the story could be problematic.

Imagine my surprise when our pastor told the story in his homily this past Sunday. He expressed outrage that 300 Catholics in Africa were locked in their church and set on fire, and the anti-Catholic media in this country refused to report the story. Have you ever wanted to jump out of your pew in the middle of a homily and say, “Father, that’s a lie!”

Why would anyone fabricate a story like this in the first place? One blogger ties the origin to an anti-Muslim activist who I will not name because verification of this is difficult. As Catholics, we need to be truthful in all things. Our credibility and integrity are at stake. We have enough legitimate claims of persecution without spreading lies. To vilify our oppressors and the press unfairly is counterproductive.

Calumny is a serious sin. Granted those forwarding this story may be well-intended, but they are allowing themselves to be used as conduits of deceit by someone spreading hatred. Do not be too quick to forward emails that may speak to your liking. Be absolutely certain they are factual before sending them on. If it sounds too bad to be true, it probably isn’t.

"Sole" Man

“Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” - 1John4:8

God and love are inseparable. One cannot be eliminated from a person’s life without losing the other also. Oh, you may still have friendships and some concern for others, but that isn’t love in its truest sense. It is more likely centered in self-preservation. Some very loving families without a conscious faith in God exist, but God is still there despite their lack of awareness. So, what happens when someone who was raised in a God-centered loving family decides to reject God?

The first question that comes to mind is why would anyone do such a thing? That is one I struggle with. Did a certain event take place that traumatized the person, or was it an evolutionary series of experiences that changed the course of a life? It’s one thing to never have known God. Many wander through life that way, and they are not all bad people. I know some very good people who have never been in a church except for an occasional wedding or funeral. What happens then when a baptized man, raised in the Church, has received the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, God Himself, eventually turns his back?

Generally speaking, people who enter into the Catholic Church from another denomination are exuberant and not angry toward the community from which they have come. On the other hand, people leaving the Catholic Church tend to spew some venom on their way out. This is not difficult to understand when viewed in the context of marriage and divorce, for if Christ truly established the Catholic Church (which can be historically shown), then coming into union with that Body is cause for joy whereas a separation oozes bitterness.

A rejection of God is a rejection of love. One cannot reject God without rejecting love. That would be a contradiction. While one can quit praying, going to Mass and receiving the sacraments in an all-out statement of Godly rejection, the love still tries to come in from family members and others who see Christ in everyone. Does there come a point where the rejection of God manifests itself, either consciously or sub-consciously, in the rejection of the love of others, and if so, how does one accomplish this?

One way would be to minimize communication with family members and others who truly love and care for the person – in effect, build an imaginary wall around oneself and fend off anyone who tries to penetrate. This may work quite well in families where faith in God is minimal. Showing disrespect for family members can create divisions that go on for years. The problem comes when some family members have enough love not to give up so easily. What happens when those being rejected turn the other cheek, apologize for wrongs never likely committed, and keep trying to penetrate the invisible wall?

We occasionally hear stories of a young person committing violent acts against his entire family and wonder how could anyone do such a thing. When all efforts to reinforce the invisible wall fail, prison walls may become an option. I wonder how many of those victims were family members who refused to stop loving. When God’s love is spurned, the evil one if free to move in.

Those living in self-imposed isolation cannot possibly enjoy life in the fullest sense. Like a sugar-substitute, they may involve themselves in other worldly diversions seeking the sweetness only true love can bring. They may try to find fulfillment in expensive toys, activities, or even drugs and alcohol, but all fall short. Nothing can fill the void left when love is missing from one’s life. Yet, one does not necessarily need a spouse, family or friends to feel loved. As John reminds us, God is love, and God’s love is available to everyone. All we have to do is open our hearts and let Him in.

Have mercy on those who are lonely not by their own choosing. Be a channel of God’s love with a smile and kind words. We are all members of Christ’s body. A simple invitation to Mass or a church function might open a window that might otherwise forever remain closed. And pray for those isolated by choice that the Holy Spirit might penetrate that cold exterior to allow the warm light of Christ to enter.

A Child’s Love

I am writing this on the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States. Nearly eighteen months ago, I became a grandfather for the first time. That little girl is the most precious child in the world to me. Last Saturday and yesterday (Monday), I was able to spend both days babysitting while her parents were out of town and my wife was working.

Of course, all grandfathers are prejudiced, but my little girl is absolutely beautiful. Her nearly constant smile and toothy grin are enough to make anyone’s heart melt. She is smart, sings the alphabet song, and her mother is teaching her sign language to enable communication with her hearing-impaired great-grandmother. In the five days she spent with us, I never heard her cry one time. She took her naps and bedtimes without resistance. Yes, she got into everything and our house is far from childproof. I have also become reaquainted with the art of diaper-changing.

She calls me something that sounds like gampaw. Any time I left the room, she would call for me repeatedly until I showed my face. Yesterday during some quiet time, she snuggled up on my lap while we watched a children’s program on television. I nearly drifted off, only to be awakened by her kissing me on the cheek. I looked at her, and she just smiled. That beautiful moment will stay with me forever and I can’t think about it now without tearing up.

Last evening, my son and daughter-in-law returned to take her home. My son has received a job offer that will likely take my granddaughter some 500 miles away. He is a talented organist and has been trying for months to find employment with a Catholic parish as liturgical music director. Unfortunately, those jobs are difficult to find. Those are also jobs that require working every weekend and Christmas. Getting to hold my granddaughter may now be limited to a couple of times a year, another thought that brings tears to my eyes. I love her so much.

On this anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I would simply ask anyone considering an abortion, to reconsider. You may feel lost, afraid, and unloved at this time, but don’t destroy a beautiful child that will love you for the rest of your life. Don’t deprive yourself of those special unexpected moments that will bring everlasting joyful memories. Destroying a life is no remedy for a something unwanted that has happened to you. It can only make things worse. If for some reason, you cannot care for your child, there are couples anxious to experience those beautiful moments themselves. Choose life. Choose love.

Obligaton Observation

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is one of only two Catholic Holy Days of Obligation that is not abrogated when it falls on a Monday or Saturday as it did this year, the other being Christmas. The same thing occurred as recently as five years ago, but I do not remember confusion arising then as it did this year. The Church is generally clear in describing our obligations to us. After all, deliberately missing Mass on a Holy Day can be a mortal sin, so this is serious business.

In our parish, the problem began on the previous Sunday when our pastor announced that the 4:30 PM Saturday evening Mass on December 8 would be for the Immaculate Conception. The bulletin emphatically stated in all caps, “THERE WILL BE NO VIGIL MASS FOR SUNDAY.” The implication was that attending Mass on Saturday evening would not fulfill the Sunday obligation. Even with my limited knowledge of Canon Law, I had an understanding that Mass readings had no bearing in determining whether one’s obligation was satisfied. An article by Canon Lawyer, Dr. Edward Peters, confirmed my belief, and also reaffirmed the fact that one must attend two Masses that weekend. The Saturday evening Mass could satisfy either obligation, but not both. I later found that disagreement existed, even among Catholic clergy, about whether the Saturday evening Mass could fulfill two obligations at once, but the general consensus sided with Dr. Peters.

My wife is the organist at the Saturday evening Mass, so we prepared music for the Immaculate Conception, and a different collection of hymns for Sunday, the Second Sunday of Advent. I decided to attend the Friday evening vigil Mass for the Immaculate Conception in addition to the weekend Masses. Our priest approached me before Mass asking if we were having music that evening. I said no. We would be having music for the Immaculate Conception on Saturday evening. He then stated there had been a change in plans. His “ordo had arrived this week” and the Saturday evening Mass would use the Second Sunday of Advent liturgy. Fine, I thought. That is the way it should be, but the confusion resulted in us not having a sung Mass for this very important Holy Day.

With no advance warning, some parishioners arrived at Saturday evening Mass expecting to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. At the end of Mass, Father explained that those who had not previously fulfilled their Holy Day obligation had now done so, but would need to return on Sunday. By strict interpretation of Canon Law 1248, they could also follow him to our sister parish six miles away and attend their 6 PM Vigil Mass, hear the same liturgy and homily, and satisfy their Sunday obligation. Here is where the Church needs to fine-tune the rules in my opinion.

I understand why the actual readings proclaimed at Mass should not determine whether one’s obligation has been satisfied. If the wrong Gospel is read by mistake at a Sunday Mass, surely Catholics could not be obligated to attend another Mass with the correctly prescribed reading. Yet, it seems to me that an exception should be made in the case where a day of obligation falls on a Saturday or Monday. The argument could be made for attending two Masses if the liturgical content (i.e. readings and homily) were required relevance for the Mass to count. If the readings do not matter as far as fulfilling the obligation, then it seems one Mass should be sufficient. When a Catholic feels he must be present at two Masses with the same readings and the same homily in order to avoid committing a mortal sin, the whole purpose of Mass attendance becomes misdirected.

We are often accused of being a religion of rules and regulations. Encouraging Mass attendance for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and also the 2nd Sunday of Advent one day apart is perfectly sensible, but allowing acceptance of the requirement by attending two identical Masses an hour apart places a technicality aura around the Mass that diminishes the true meaning of the celebration. While it may fulfill the letter of the law, it certainly seems to diminish the purpose of the dual observation and adds fodder for those who call us a legalistic religion.

Six years from now, the same situation will occur again. I hope by then, the Church will provide clarity by tweaking Canon Law 1248 to distinguish separately the time periods for observance when two Holy Days of Obligation are consecutive.

Setting the Stage for Four More Years

Well, the election is over. Despite all the prayers, homilies, letters, statements, donations, and petitions, the pro-abortion candidate was re-elected president. As the election returns came in Tuesday evening, I found my excitement gradually reduced to depression. I turned off the television and got ready for bed. Remembering the famous “Dewey defeats Truman” headline of 1948, I flipped the TV on one more time just as Obama was projected as winner of Ohio. I immediately turned it back off and tried to go to sleep. I had to use a sleep aid that night – something I do not like to do.

Wednesday morning was tough. The news-talk radio I customarily devour every day on my way to work was too much to bear. Even music seemed inappropriate. I shut the radio off like I do when driving through the cemetery. I wondered what the stock market would do in light of the election result. It fell more than 300 points, really no surprise to me. Investors were discouraged also.

A CNN poll said fifty percent of Catholics voted for Obama and forty-eight percent voted for Romney. Obama won the Catholic vote. I realize that many people who are Catholic do not practice the faith, but how can so many ignore what has been an unprecedented outcry from our Catholic Bishops regarding infringement upon our religious rights by the current administration. Sadly, I believe it is a reflection of a certain disdain for the Catholic Church, even among its own members, many of whom dislike being told how to behave or how to think.

Perhaps I should look at this more optimistically. A Fox News poll showed fifty-seven percent of Catholics who attend Mass weekly voted Romney, and forty-two percent for Obama. Many Catholics still follow the teachings of the Faith in their desire to lead good Christian lives, but we are now the minority in this country. The balances have tipped to the point where same-sex marriage, abortion on demand, and other intrinsic evils cannot be stopped. One only need look at the electoral map to see the polarization of our population.

What will the next four years bring? Will our country continue to disregard the moral compass and drift even farther off course? Voters in two states opted for legalized same-sex marriage. Los Angeles County voters decided to require actors filming pornographic movies to wear condoms. (Yes, it was on the ballot.) Will Catholic institutions be able to uphold Church teachings in the face declining morals and governmental intrusion?

Monsignor Charles Pope has an article on the Archdiocese of Washington blog on the five stages of religious persecution. He credits Johnette Benkovic for speaking about the five stages at a recent fundraiser for WMET radio in DC. The five stages of religious persecution are:

1. Stereotyping the targeted group
2. Vilifying the targeted group for alleged crimes or misconduct
3. Marginalizing the targeted group’s role in society
4. Criminalizing the targeted group or its works
5. Persecuting the targeted group outright.

The Catholic Church has felt the slings and arrows of the first two stages for many years. In my lifetime, stage 3 has become evident in the way society has forced the elimination of Christian symbols. Public nativity scenes are no longer allowed, students cannot pray or thank God in graduation ceremonies, and Bibles are not welcome in public schools.

We now find ourselves dealing with stage 4. Several Catholic charities have been forced to stop adoption services because of governmental requirements to serve same-sex couples. The HHS mandate is attempting to require Church sponsored institutions to fund insurance that provides for abortions and birth control, obviously unacceptable for any Catholic with a properly formed conscience.

Is Stage 5 looming on the horizon? Signs have already cropped up in Canada and Europe where preaching on Catholic doctrine can be considered a hate crime. How far will our government go to enforce laws that infringe on religious liberty? How far will the Church go to stand firm on teachings considered non-negotiable? Will we be forced to close schools, hospitals, and charities rather than violate our principles? A storm may be brewing. Only time will tell.

Your welcome

How welcoming are you? I recently spoke with a gentleman who walked into a local non-denominational church for the first time. He said before he left, he had shaken hands with every person in attendance. Catholic convert Tim Staples tells a similar story of people fighting over him years ago in a Baptist church, inviting him into their homes when he was new and searching.

Circumstances are a little different in a Catholic Church. We are accustomed to seeing strangers in our churches, travelers passing through, people in town for a sporting event, and so forth. Occasionally however, non-Catholics who have a curiosity or have developed interest in Catholicism may gather enough courage to step into a Catholic Church for the first time. How do we seek out these folks and make them feel welcome?

Our parish is small so strangers generally stand out. Picking experienced Catholics out among strangers is not difficult. They come in, genuflect, enter the pew and kneel in prayer. Those unfamiliar to the church may seem a bit bewildered and unsure of themselves when they enter. I try to seek these people out and at least give them a friendly smile. We should never pass an opportunity to engage someone who may be seeking spiritual guidance. If those they meet seem indifferent or unfriendly, they may flee and never return.

I know of situations where a person has approached a Catholic priest for help, only to be told to come back another time because he was too busy at present. While priests are often pressed for time, turning a stranger away should never happen. One never knows what prompted that person to seek conversation. Even if responsibilities prohibit immediate counsel, one can never be too busy to show concern and obtain contact information.

Catholics should always be personable. One can never go wrong making eye contact with strangers, giving them a friendly hello. If we truly see Christ in others, we would never pass them by without a greeting. That stranger may have taken years to make that move to visit the Catholic Church. Who knows what situation may have pushed him or her in the door? Bringing one person into the Catholic faith could spawn generations to follow. One happenstance encounter could mean a thousand souls gained or lost. Never pass up an opportunity to evangelize.