Now that Pope Benedict XVI has beatified Cardinal John Henry Newman, the convert and educator needs another miracle attributed to his intervention in order to be considered for sainthood. If the Catholic laity can be what Cardinal Newman instructed, and which Pope Benedict quoted in his beatification Mass homily Sept. 19, that should certainly qualify as a miracle:
    “I want a laity, not arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, but men who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold and what they do not, who know their creed so well that they can give an account of it, who know so much of history that they can defend it.”
    Read the entire homily at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20100919_beatif-newman_en.html   

    Where have we heard this? Archbishop Richard Smith of the Archdiocese of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is instituting a policy that bans parishes, schools, Catholic institutions and Catholic organizations from fundraising through “harmful gambling activities” including casino gaming, video lottery terminals and high-stakes bingo.
    Does this mean low-stakes bingo is OK?
    The policy also bans Catholic organizations from applying for funding from the Alberta Lottery Fund or other sources that raise money from gambling.
    The archbishop notes that computers and technology should not be viewed as extra for which parent groups have to raise funds, but “are necessary and should be funded directly by the government.” Yeah, that’s going to happen.
    Unless stewardship becomes ingrained in Catholic hearts, and that might take longer than it will to implement this ban, expect gambling to be an integral part of fundraising for parishes, schools, etc.    

    This should sound familiar: It was a message he delivered during his time in Milwaukee, but Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan shared it with a new audience Sept. 21 when he told participants at the Los Angeles Catholic Prayer Breakfast: “We are living in an era where people believe in Christ, but not in his church. They want the king, but not the kingdom; they want to believe without belonging; they want the faith, but not the faithful. But for the committed Catholic, the answer to that is, ‘no can do.’ Jesus and the church are one.”
    Read the story at http://www.chnonline.org/news/nation-world/9770-archbishop-dolan-says-too-many-people-dont-see-that-jesus-church-are-one.html     

    Season’s GREEDings: Menards and Kohl’s are already displaying Christmas items. At that rate, our “Keep Christ in Christmas” campaigns are going to have to begin around the Fourth of July.       

   Celebrate .;:&!?! Day: Yes, Friday, Sept. 24 is Punctuation Day. May all you do end with!!!!!!!!!