Upcoming Talks and Appearances-Take 2

October 21st, 2008. St. Matthew Men's Group, "At The Table"

St. Matthew Parish. Hillsboro, Oregon.

Time: 7:00 pm

Talk: "The Reality of Sin: What's a Man to Do?"

December 19th, 2008. Catholic TV program "This Is The Day"

www.CatholicTV.org

Time: TBD

Topic: Men's spirituality and the Real Catholic Men Conference

February 5th, 2009. St. Anthony's "Theology on Tap"

Prime Time Sports Bar and Grill, Forest Grove, Oregon

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Talk: "Enough About Me: Living the Hard Teachings of Christ"

February 21st, 2009. St. Matthew's

St. Matthew Parish. Hillsboro, Oregon.

Time: TBD

Talk: "Catholic with a Capital 'C': Being Faithful in ALL Aspects of Life"

Where is it Coming From?

My defenses automatically go up when I hear or see the word "former" in front of anyone's title or description.

Let me explain.

How many times have you heard a "former Catholic" talk about the evils in the Church?  Or a former nun or priest tell their story about why they are no longer what they were?

I would say that 99% of the time these "formers" come from a place of anger towards the Catholic Church as opposed to a place of love for where they are going.  

Converts to Catholicism never or rarely speak about how they bolted from their Protestant or Evangelical church due to their archaic ways, a scandal or because they felt "trapped".  Converts to Catholicism speak about the beauty they found in the Catholic Church.  The fullness of truth.  Of finally being "home".

The same cannot be said for those who go the other direction.  Almost EVERY time, people leave the Church due to anger, disappointment, resentment or a sense of betrayal.

This should throw up numerous red flags when reading their reasons behind their leaving.

Here is an excerpt of a review for the movie "CONSTANTINE'S SWORD".


"Once, I focused on the good the church could do. Now my faith hangs directly on facing the worst the church has done." So says writer James Carroll, a former Roman Catholic priest who eloquently guides viewers through nearly 1,700 years of church doctrine in Oren Jacoby's film, adapted from Carroll's 2001 best-selling book of the same name. Not precisely journalistic, as a personal chronicle writ large it is a stirring, richly intellectual work.

Carroll explores two questions central to his decision to leave the priesthood: How did Christianity come to inspire violence and war? What was the Catholic Church's role in fomenting anti-Semitism? From the time of Rome's first Christian emperor, Constantine, through the Holocaust and to today's "war on terror," these questions are answered in often-horrifying detail.

How sad that we as humans continue to focus on the humanity of man (sins, faults, failings) rather than the divinity of Christ and His teachings.  How sad that so many are stuck in the past.

I can't tell you how many times - when speaking about the Catholic faith - someone bring up "selling of indulgences".

Get over it!  Move on!  It was a mistake.  Ever made one of those?  It was not a teaching of the Church, but an invention of man for selfish means.

God makes no mistakes.  We do.  God does not foster hate.  We do.  God does not create flaws in His Church.  We do.

Let's place the blame where is should be placed (us), and not on His Bride (the Church).  We should all be more forgiving.  We should all be more loving.

"The greatest of these is Love."

Ignorance of God's Law is No Excuse

Sometimes it's hard to not let out a heavy sigh and roll your eyes when you hear what some self-proclaimed Catholics believe - and especially those who hold public office.

Here is a prime example from a report from Catholic Online regarding the recent Democratic National Convention:

Tuesday was also a day of clarification as the Catholic Bishops took serious issue with remarks made by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Sunday’s “Meet the Press” on NBC. In addition to stating that she misrepresented the official position of the Catholic Church, several bishops have made strong statements concerning the false statements she made concerning both the history and doctrines of the Church. 

During the on-the-air discussion, anchor Tom Brokaw reminded the Speaker that Catholic Church doctrine stated that human life began at conception. To this the speaker replied the church had only come at that conclusion within the past fifty years. 

Calling herself as "an ardent, practicing Catholic," she remarked that, around 400 A.D., St. Augustine had said that the fetus receives a soul at three month. "We don't know. The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose." 

How can the ignorance here not be blatantly obvious to EVERYONE? 

St. Augustine was and is not God.  He was stating his own theological conclusion to the best of his human intellect and capacity.  Do you honestly think they had ultrasound machines in the year 400 A.D.?  "Scientist" also thought the Earth was flat and that it was the center of the universe... but it's okay for them to change (clarify) their positions on an almost daily basis because, after all, this is science.

I've even heard the blow-hard Gene Simmons of the rock group KISS bash Christianity by stating that even Jesus was Jewish and not a Christian.

Of course he wasn't!  How can you follow a religion based on your own death and resurrection before it even happens?

Nancy Pelosi is NOT an "ardent, practicing Catholic."  She is an ardent, practicing Pelosi-ite.  Making up her own rules to suite her ego.  Join the club, Nancy.  The line forms behind John Kerry and Joe Biden.

What's New with RCM?

Well, a lot to be honest.

I have a few appearances coming up this year and early next year.

I will be giving a talk a St. Matthew in Hillsboro, Oregon on September 25th for their new men's group.  The topic will be "The Nature of Sin.  What's a Man to Do?"

In October I will once again help local Catholic radio station KBVM with their Fall Share-a-thon.  Date and time to be determined.

On December 19th I will appear (via phone-in) on CatholicTV in Boston on their "This is the Day" program speaking about RCM, its ministry and the conference.

Then on February 21st, I will be speaking again at St. Matthew in Hillsboro, but this time at their "Faith Over Easy" program.  The talk will be called "Catholic With a Capital 'C': Living the Faith in ALL Aspects of Life"

So keep your eyes here for more details.

How Do We Right This Wrong?

Let's talk about sin.

Wait, wait - don't go away.  This is going to be interesting.  It's another reason for us to get up and be counted among the "Faithful in Action."

Let's start with a possible misconception.  We all know (or should) that Eve gets a bad rap when it comes to her involvement in The Fall of Man (Genesis 3).  She ate the fruit, right?  Well, where was Adam?

Genesis 3:6 tells us, "... she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband who was with her, and he ate."

Talk about responsibility.  Adam was supposed to protect his wife, but instead he let her be tempted and give in to the serpent.  

So the questions is: Were Adam and Eve equally responsible for the Fall?

No.  The Bible tells us that it was Adam, and his disregard for protecting the woman entrusted to him, who is ultimately responsible.

Let's take a look at Romans 5:12.  "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men."

"One man."  Not "man" as in "mankind" like in Genesis 3:26 when God said, "Let Us make man in Our image."

Maybe this will make it more clear.  Corinthians 15:22 states, "For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ all shall be brought to life."

Can't get much more straight forward than that.

These days we continue to turn a blind eye to - as well as helping to perpetuate - sin.  Who are the creators and consumers of pornography?  Who wages war?  Who do we elect as our officials?  Who leaves women as unwed mothers?

Let's take responsibility and turn the tide.  Decide to make a difference NOW.

Vote Pro-Life.  March for just causes.  Pray like there is no tomorrow.  Seek and receive forgiveness.  Choose to love and not to hate.  Spread the Gospel message.

Be a Real Catholic Man.

Networking for God

Would Jesus use the internet to spread the Gospel if He were alive today?

Interesting questions to ponder.  I don't want to make any assumptions for the Son of God, but He just might.

In today's age, we have to use any means necessary to evangelize.  Even if those means are utilized by others to spread hatred or sin.  The internet (like television, magazines or film) is not - in and of itself - evil.  Anything can be used to uplift or to seduce.

I might be a bit slow in keeping up with technology - I don't own an iPhone, nor do I have an LCD or Plasma TV.  But recently I built a page on Facebook to promote Real Catholic Men.  I figure any way I can spread the Word of God would be a good thing.

Now, I'm not "promoting" Facebook, but it seems to be a very easy way of networking and passing along information.

If the spirit moves you, I would like to invite you to register on Facebook and join the RCM Group page.  Show the millions of others using this networking site your love of God and of making yourself a better man in order to serve others.

You can get updated information here, at the Facebook site, or at the main RCM website.

Thank you all for your support.  Let's network for God!

What Can You Do?

One of the goals of Real Catholic Ministries, and of the associated RCM Conference, is to find a way to gather and mobilize Catholic men when a need for a show of solidarity and faith arises.

There are so many opportunities to say "yes" and "no".  We are asked to do so much these days.  Things of importance... and things not so important.

The real question we all need to ask ourselves - again and again - is "what are our priorities?"

Is a bike ride more important than a Rosary Rally in front of an abortion clinic?

Is a soccer game more important than staying for the ENTIRE Masss?

Is Happy Hour more important than Holy Hour?

I would like to submit to you today a cause where you can put your time and attention.

http://www.preciouschildrenofportland.org/

Please sign up for the e-mail list for this VERY worthy cause.  Bill Diss, who heads up this organization, is passionate about life.  

THIS is important!  Please make a point to put your faith into action.