Hello fellow YouthReform bloggers

Why have you abandoned me?

An unbalanced measure

When it rains, it pours.

A federal judge rules that schools must allow students to wear gay pride stickers and clothes.

But wear a pro-life t-shirt to school? Read about the harassment fifth-grader Helena Yoest faced. Hello, ACLU?

And what about a Marine uniform for high school graduation?

No go.

P.C. rules.

From Michelle Malkin

Indulgence for the year of St. Paul

From Recta Ratio:

The Holy Father has been pleased to offer a plenary indulgence to the faithful during the Year of St Paul, from June 29, 2008 to June 29, 2009. According to Zenit:

With the customary conditions, the faithful can obtain the indulgence by undertaking "a pious visit in the form of a pilgrimage to the papal basilica of St. Paul on Rome's Via Ostiense and [praying] in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff," the decree explained.

It added: "In order that the prayers pronounced on these holy visits may lead and draw the souls of the faithful to a more intense veneration of the memory of St. Paul, the following conditions are laid down: The faithful, apart from pronouncing their own prayers before the altar of the Blessed Sacrament, [...] must go to the altar of the Confession and pray the 'Our Father' and the 'Creed,' adding pious invocations in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Paul; and such acts of devotion must remain closely linked to the memory of the prince of the apostles, St. Peter."'

Those who are not in Rome can obtain the indulgence "if they participate devotedly in a religious function or in a pious exercise held publicly in honor of the Apostle of the Gentiles: on the days of the solemn opening and closing of the Pauline Year in any place of worship; on other days determined by the local ordinary, in holy places named for St. Paul and, for the good of the faithful, in other places designated by the ordinary."

A good examination of conscience

This is one of the best examination of consciences I've come across.

Knights of Columbus founder declared "Venerable"

Vatican declares Knights of Columbus founder "venerable"

Fr. Michael J. McGivney would be first American-born priest to be declared a saint

New Haven, CT - March 16, 2008 - Pope Benedict XVI Saturday approved a decree recognizing the heroic virtue of Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus. The pope's declaration significantly advances the priest's process toward sainthood and gives the parish priest the distinction of "Venerable Servant of God." If canonized, Fr. McGivney would be the first American born priest to be so honored.

"All of us who are members of the Knights of Columbus are profoundly grateful for this recognition of the holiness of our founder," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. "The strength of the Knights of Columbus today is a testament to his timeless vision, his holiness and his ideals."

Worried about the religious faith and financial stability of immigrant families, Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus with the help of several men of St. Mary's Parish in New Haven in 1882 to help strengthen the faith of the men of his parish and to provide financial assistance in the event of their death to the widows and orphans they left behind. He was also known for his tireless work among his parishioners.

Born in Waterbury, Conn., Aug. 12, 1852, Michael Joseph McGivney, was the first of Patrick and Mary (Lynch) McGivney's 13 children, six of whom died in infancy or early childhood. His parents, natives of Ireland, had immigrated to the United States during the 19th century. Patrick was a molder in a Waterbury brass mill, where Michael himself worked for a brief time as a child to help support his family.

From an early age, however, he realized a calling to the Catholic priesthood. After studying in several seminaries, he was ordained in that Baltimore's historic Cathedral by Cardinal James Gibbons Dec. 22, 1877. He took up his first assignment, as curate at St. Mary's Church, New Haven, Conn., Jan. 2, 1878. Father McGivney was named pastor of St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, Conn. in 1884. He became seriously ill with pneumonia in January 1890, and died Aug. 14, 1890 at age 38.

The cause, or process, for Father McGivney's sainthood, was opened by Hartford Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin, in December 1997. The cause was presented to the Vatican in 2000, where it has been under review by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. With the pope's recent decree, and the authentication of a miracle at Father McGivney's intercession, the priest could be beatified. A second miracle would be required for canonization.

Still maintaining its headquarters in New Haven, the Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic Fraternal Organization with more than 1.7 million members in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean islands, the Philippines, Guam and, most recently, Poland.

Condoms at Boston College

From the BC Heights, 18-Feb-2008. My comments in red, emphasis in bold.

Card companies and other businesses in the United States sell Valentine's Day as a holiday filled with flowers, chocolates, romance - and in some cases, sex. At least, that's what the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) believes, which is why it distributed 1,000 condoms to students throughout campus last week. (Unmarried students, it it save to assume.)

Among the noise and signs of the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) presidential campaigning efforts, 15 students passed out condoms in the dustbowl to students as they made their way to class. Within 10 minutes, they had distributed 500 condoms with an attached poem (with a typical failure rate of 10-15%, that's 50-75 potential unplanned pregnancies, and perhaps as many abortions. Yes, I know the failure rate is over a year, but let's assume typical condom use, and that this occasion is just once in a years worth of condom-using sex), which said "If you're struck by Cupid's spell, take this condom, use it well."

The previous night, the group had distributed the other 500 condoms to residence halls on Lower Campus, slipping them under doors in envelopes with statistics regarding the effectiveness of condoms (yes, but spread over 4 years of college, your chances of getting pregnant will increase). in preventing sexually transmitted diseases and the risks of unprotected sex. The condoms were donated by Planned Parenthood. (No surprise there)

WHI is a self-proclaimed grassroots group that is unrecognized and unfunded by the Boston College administration, as it advocates issues that conflict with the traditional Jesuit ideals of the University. (This is important to remember for BC bashers. Pray that it stays that way.) As a Jesuit university, BC promotes abstinence as the best means to avoid STDs and unwanted pregnancies and prohibits the distribution of contraceptives at University Health Services.

Although the BC Web site does provide a link to the Center for Disease Control and Protection's Web page on STDs, the site itself currently does not provide information on how STDs can be specifically contracted or prevented by any means other than abstinence. This contributed to the University's failed sexual health report card conducted last year by independent researchers last September. BC was ranked 120 out of the 139 colleges and universities polled. (Again, no surprise. If they world thinks a Catholic school's sexual policies are bad, I think that's a good thing. It's because of the world's sexual revolution that we have the problems we have today.)

The students in WHI seek to challenge current administrative policies, which they said endanger student health.

"We hope that through the distribution of condoms, discussion can be facilitated among the student body, exerting pressure on BC to change its current policy of carelessness and denial in regard to sexual and reproductive health," said a press release by WHI.

Those distributing condoms said they did not attempt to seek prior permission from the University because they knew they would not receive it, which would hinder their efforts.

Recognizing that their actions were not sanctioned by BC, the group members limited their time in the Dustbowl to 10 minutes.

"We definitely could have gotten in trouble - we considered it quite likely," said Cecilia Fierro, a participant in the condom distribution and A&S '08. "But if we were to get in trouble, that would have been an injustice."

Despite the potential risk of administrative backlash, the group decided to distribute the condoms, viewing as it an important sexual health issue.

"First and foremost, we want to make sure the issue of sexual and reproductive health is raised," Fierro said. (What about the issue of sexual responsibility?)

She said that because this issue was so important for students universally, the group of students decided not to wear representative WHI shirts while distributing the condoms.

"This affects the student body as a whole, and that's why we just wanted to be students that day," Fierro said.

Fierro said that Valentine's Day seemed to be the ideal time for the group to raise awareness on campus regarding sexual and reproductive issues.

"Valentine's Day is a socially salient day. People think about romance, and perhaps sex," Fierro said. "It's a fun and romantic day, but sexual health is always a priority."

Catholic Scientologist?

On February 10, a group called "Anonymous" led a global protest against the "Church" of Scientology. One such protest occurred in Boston.

In a building alcove, partially sheltered from sudden raw rainfall, 56-year-old Larry Brennan said he drove 70 miles from New Hampshire for the protest - not as a member of Anonymous, but as a former upper-echelon Scientologist attached to church leader David Miscavige from 1973 to 1984.

Brennan said he saw and experienced Miscavige physically abuse members, and that the church financially exploited him, then threatened family members when they tried to leave.

"These people have no idea how abusive," [sic] Brennan said.

Abuse in Scientology. Not a surprise; abuse occurs everywhere. The BostonNOW article goes on to quote a most ridiculous woman:

Inside, a worshipper who asked her name not be used said church "technology" helped improve her business, and that she wouldn't belong to a church that abused its members.

"I'm actually Catholic, but I also believe in Scientology," she said. "I think people doing something like this is just wrong."

What?! First, the irony is palpable. Here is a woman who claims who says she's a Catholic (in Boston - the epicenter of the sex abuse scandal in America) and that the claims about Scientology are false because she would never belong to a church that abused its members. But should we be surprised at such an egregious non-sequitur from someone who thinks that Catholicism and Scientology are in anyway compatible?

This post is cross-posted at Taking Back Vatican II.