The challenges ahead for Pope Francis, Catholics, and the Church worldwide

Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent for Christians worldwide. I don't think I'll be giving up anything during Lent this year. As ice cream and cake are required sustence for the elderly (I made that up) , I will try to pray more for inner peace and the courage to deal with life's challenges. In the beveament group which I attend, I pray for the ability to accept God's plan.

Rather than giving up something, thing, this is about doing!

How Catholics, Lent, and bowls of rice are changing the world
February 18, 2015 by CNA Daily News

Baltimore, Md., Feb 18, 2015 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl program aims to continue its forty-year Lenten tradition of supporting hunger relief – and one of its past beneficiaries is now a spokesman for the project.
“Many years ago when I was a hungry boy in Ghana and living without parents or family, the smell of food lured me to the village school. There I was nourished and lifted off the path of likely death,” Thomas Awiapo said Jan. 16.
“That school food program existed because of the little box we call rice bowl.”
Awiapo was orphaned in his home country of Ghana before he was 10 years old. He credits a Catholic Relief Services-supported lunch program he discovered at age 12 with changing his life, and the lives of his children.
“You can call me the poster child for CRS Rice Bowl, but we’d be closer to the truth if you called my children your poster children,” he said.
“They have never experienced hunger in their lifetime, and today they attend university, high school and secondary schools without missing a beat.”
Awiapo now works for Catholic Relief Services and trains community leaders throughout Ghana and is presently touring the U.S. to speak about the rice bowl program.
The mainstay of the program is a small cardboard box. Families and individuals, as well as parishes and schools, put in a small amount of money each day of Lent to help hunger relief around the world.
At present there are an unprecedented number of hunger emergencies in Syria, Iraq, Central African Republic, and South Sudan, where war has caused interruptions to food supplies, unemployment, and homelessness, forcing millions to live as refugees. Another food emergency is in West Africa, where the Ebola outbreak has been a major disruption to normal life.
Since its creation in 1975, CRS Rice Bowl has raised $250 million to fight hunger, the relief agency reports.
“CRS Rice Bowl offers families, schools and faith communities an opportunity to put their faith into action while learning about the lives and struggles of our brothers and sisters around the world,” said Beth Martin, the program’s director. “We’re encouraging people to reflect on what 40 years of CRS Rice Bowl has accomplished and challenging them to put one dollar for every day of Lent in their rice bowl.”
Last year the program added a new app to help people track their donations. The Rice Bowl app, available in English and Spanish, now has new Lenten reflections, integrated Twitter support, and improved tracking for Lenten sacrifices.
Other new material for 2015’s rice bowl includes the “What is Lent?” video series. It will provide viewers with Lenten reflections from Catholics such as Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, and CRS president Carolyn Woo.
The CRS Rice Bowl Global Kitchen Video Series will feature television personality and cook Father Leo Patalinghug teaching how to cook five meatless recipes from the five countries in focus this year: Tanzania, Nicaragua, Niger, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Catholic Relief Services has also prepared solidarity reflections to provide prayers and activities, for youth groups, high school classes, and young adults.

A good one today -

"Saying we must never use God as a cover for injustice, Pope Francis warned on Friday (February 20th) against those who follow all the outward signs of piety but then exploit or mistreat their employees. The Pope’s words came during his homily at his morning Mass celebrated in the Santa Marta residence."

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/02/20/pope_francis__never_use_god_as_a_cover_for_injustice/1124618

Pope Francis highlighted the example of somebody who goes to Mass every Sunday and receives communion but then asked: does that person pay his or her employees in cash under the table, maybe a salary below the going rate and without making the necessary social security contributions?

“So many men and women of faith, have faith but then divide the tablets of the law. ‘Yes, I do this’ – ‘But do you practice charity?’ – Yes of course, I always send a cheque to the Church’ – ‘Ok, that’s good. But at your home, within your own Church, are you generous and are you fair with those who are your dependents - be they your children, your grandparents, your employees?’ You cannot make offerings to the Church on the shoulders of the injustice that you practice towards your dependents. This is a very serious sin: using God as a cover for injustice.”
...

The pope went on to explain how during Lent Christians should be reaching out to those who are less fortunate, be they children, old people without private health insurance who may have to wait eight hours to be seen by a doctor and those who have erred and who are now in prison.

“No, with those types of people I don’t (associate) ….’ He’s in prison: if you’re not in prison it’s because our Lord has helped you not to sin. Do you have room in your heart for prisoners in jail? Do you pray for them so that the Lord can help them to change their life?’ May the Lord accompany us on our Lenten journey so that our external observance becomes a profound renewal of the Spirit. That’s what we prayed for. That the Lord may give us this grace.”

Amen!

Had considered posting this on the Rose Garden thread as the topic has been discussed there, but as is way too obvious today,politics and religion makes a cauldron of bitterness

http://ow.ly/2UT3gD

IM80 said:

Had considered posting this on the Rose Garden thread as the topic has been discussed there, but as is way too obvious today,politics and religion makes a cauldron of bitterness

http://ow.ly/2UT3gD

Red herring argument against marriage equality. The only "cauldron of bitterness" is the one embodied by the author of that article.

His prescription is, "give serious thought to the possibility that the Church should quit serving as the government’s agent in legitimating marriages." No, that's an "I'm taking my ball home" childish response.

Serious and faithful adults can work this out, without using their faith to put someone else down. See the sermon I referenced in the post above.

Geez, just about every time this Pope opens his mouth these days, I tear up, because he always seems to go for the center of the issue at hand, AND bulls-eye on Matthew 25:

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’... 39'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

And I'm way lapsed from any church.

Nohero, how can we reconcile this attempt to browbeat small business people by inflicting enormous monetary fines to bring them into line on this subject? The best solution to this particular issue would be to stop ordering cakes from that particular baker. Capitalism at its finest! Having grown up - literally- in a candy store, my father would have said "the customer is always right." How he "drew the line" back then when being strong armed to accept what passed for pornography magazines at the time as a condition to getting Life, Look,Etc, was to display them on the top most shelf in the magazine rack. Artfully displayed to insure no revelations of their covers.

As added insurance, somehow he got our store cat aka mouser, to lounge along the top shelf where theses mags was placed. He liked the height, privacy, and warmth. However, if an unsuspecting hand managed to reach up for a magazine, a paw quickly discouraged that move!

Who would complain about getting scratched while reaching for a girly magazine as they were known back then?

IM80 said:

Nohero, how can we reconcile this attempt to browbeat small business people by inflicting enormous monetary fines to bring them into line on this subject?

You are defending people who discriminate among their potential customers. Your analogy to magazine sales is completely not applicable.

It's not analogous to forcing someone to sell porn. If a magazine seller told a customer, "You're gay, so I can't sell you this Parents magazine that I would sell to a straight person", that would be a better analogy. It would also be offensive and wrong.

To use your words, NoHero, "It would also be offensive and wrong", but is it serious enough to require punitive legal actions designed to crush another's livelihood? That sounds like revenge rather than Justice to me.

Another instance -- http://ow.ly/2UX12A

Common sense scenario would have been for the long time customer to express his hurt and disappointment that the florist would refuse his request along with a promise that he would no longer shop there. The customer could then have taken his wedding floral needs to another store.

She's been perfectly willing to take his money for 9 years. The "common sense scenario" is that she does a fabulous job making her long-term customer and self-described friend's day special. He didn't just walk into any random store, this was someone he knew and trusted. I bet Jesus would have said yes.

ridski said:

She's been perfectly willing to take his money for 9 years. The "common sense scenario" is that she does a fabulous job making her long-term customer and self-described friend's day special. He didn't just walk into any random store, this was someone he knew and trusted. I bet Jesus would have said yes.

You may be right about what Jesus would have said.

But, what do you think He might have said about the government response of breaking-the-back of the small business owner by slapping him/her with punitive fines? The bakery fine of $150,000 is a lot of cupcakes!

Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. Its been a while since I read it, but I don't remember too many of his government intrusion into private enterprise parables.

IIRC he was more concerned with heavenly wealth than worldly wealth, and loving thy neighbor as thyself.

Defending, or defining , or living one's faith in the face of death...

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/world/europe/keeping-the-faith-in-brutal-captivity.html?ref=todayspaper

"Truth is one. The paths are many."

In my view, a conversion, especially one under duress, doesn't necessarily mean an increase or decrease in faith or anything else.

Interesting idea here to actually do something! Even if it is more talking -- that's a good thing!

http://www.americamagazine.org/issue/un-religion

I like the idea of a U.N. for religion, although the political U.N. has certainly got its issues. Anything that results in more genuine exchange of ideas and promotion of mutual respect would get my vote.

PeggyC said:

I like the idea of a U.N. for religion, although the political U.N. has certainly got its issues. Anything that results in more genuine exchange of ideas and promotion of mutual respect would get my vote.

I agree! Hope this idea gets some exposure and traction in the public arena.

2nd SUNDAY of LENT

This Week's Morning Offering Lenten Challenge

Each day this week do a small, spontaneous act of generosity for someone you know. For example, send a note of encouragement to someone who is struggling; call or visit someone in a hospital or nursing home, or their caretaker; bring coffee to a co-worker you might not always get along with; spark a conversation with someone who could really use a listening ear.

Ask your Guardian Angel to help you do just the right thoughtful thing that will make a big impact on someone's day. Make your list and each day do something small yet kind for that person.

Challenge your friends and family to do the same on your favorite social media channel using hashtag #MOLentenChallenge. We’ll reshare your images and video. Spread the love this Lent!

"Little things done out of love are those that charm the Heart of Christ.”

- St. Therese of Lisieux

Would you ever think of Lent and social media in the same sentence. Better to do something good rather than give something up.

Love the MOL hashtag!

Pray for Pope Francis...

http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/03/02/vatican-security-chief-says-isis-threat-to-pope-is-real/

In other news, Stephen Colbert on what he'd like to ask Pope Francis, on his favorite saint, and other things Catholic.

http://youtu.be/o-zxn-YGUI4

Aww, thanks nohero. That WAS fun!

Interesting numbers to crunch

http://ow.ly/2VryPU

I receive these daily meditations from the Catholic Company via email. Good way to start the day!


Morning Offering
MARCH 7, 2015
"'Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God'; Therefore, according to the Gospel, any citizen can be a good Catholic – that is, side with Jesus Christ and the Pope, and do good to his fellow men – and at the same time side with Caesar, namely, observe the laws of the land, except when the rulers persecute religion or tyrannize the consciences and minds of citizens."
— St. John Bosco
MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"But you, ‘a chosen generation,’ weak things of the world, who have forsaken all things, so that you may follow the Lord, go after him, and confound the strong; go after him, you beautiful feet, and shine in the firmament so that the heavens may declare his glory… Run into every place, O you holy fires, you beautiful fires! You are the light of the world, and you are not put under a measure. He to whom you have held fast has been exalted, and he has exalted you. Run forth, and make it known to all nations."
— Saint Augustine, p.318-19
The Confessions of Saint Augustine >>

Projections on what the Pope may or may not decide...

http://bit.ly/1CcqkwC

An interview by Vatican Radio with the Pope shows his honesty and simplicity -- pray his prediction is wrong!

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/1129074

Big East Catholic college teams have an edge......

http://nyti.ms/1GQAnJ1

Where is the outrage?

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/publiccatholic/2015/03/14-dead-in-terrorist-bombings-of-pakistani-churches/

I feel outrage at all the deaths in the Holy Land, and at terrorist attacks around the world.

What specific kind of outrage did you have in mind?

PeggyC said:

I feel outrage at all the deaths in the Holy Land, and at terrorist attacks around the world.

What specific kind of outrage did you have in mind?

Senseless slaughter.

Beautiful essay on loss and love...

https://thejesuitpost.org/2015/02/because-mom-meeting-god-again-for-the-first-time/