General: That the Church and society may respect the wisdom and experience of older people.
Mission: That priests, religious, and lay people may work together with generosity for evangelization.
“Let us go forth to offer everyone the life of Jesus Christ”
The January/February issue of Lay Witness magazine has arrived! This issue features articles by Mark Shea, Michael J. Miller, Dan Burke, and Ted Sri. We take a special look at Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium and feature articles on the various aspects of the pro-life movement.
For more information on subscribing to Lay Witness magazine or becoming a member of Catholics United for the Faith, please visit our website.
The Holy Father’s Intentions for January
Mission That all may promote authentic economic development that respects the dignity of all peoples.
General that Christians of diverse denominations may walk toward the unity desired by Christ.
Aritist James Langley Studio Sale Handmade for the Home: Fine and Decorative art from a Catholic Perspective
James Langley is a contemporary visual artist working in the Catholic tradition; lending first person witness to the incarnate goodness of the world that we daily look upon. The tangible qualities of his work seek to articulate the “inscape” of nature; such that paint and the material character of light and form mediate a dialogue with the invisible world of enduring value. Based in a respect that borders upon reverence for ordinary things, Langley art opens into a conversation between the existential and the essential, the ancient and the modern, the temporal and the eternal, the profane and the sacred.
To view more artwork or seek further information, follow the links below.
The Boldness of a Stranger
In addition to writing the classic series Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis is known for the many books he wrote on Christianity. With works such as The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity, Lewis was one of the most well-known Christian thinkers of his day. He was remarkably close to Catholic thought in many ways, but chose to remain Anglican. It was because of this reputation that H. Lyman Stebbins (who later founded Catholics United for the Faith) wrote to C.S. Lewis.
In November of 1998, Lay Witness published the original letters written between the two men with commentary by Madeleine Stebbins, widow of H. Lyman Stebbins.
To read the letters, click here.
CDF Reminder on Medjugorje
Today, the Catholic News Agency published a letter written by the US apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Carlo Vigano, on behalf of Arch. Gerhard Mueller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The letter referred to the ongoing investigation of the alleged Marian apparitions in Bosnia. In it, Archbishop Vigano makes reference to the official decree made by the local church and reminds the US bishops
The Congregation (for the Doctrine of the Faith) has affirmed that, with regard to the credibility of the ‘apparitions’ in question, all should accept the declaration … which asserts: ‘On the basis of the research that has been done, it is not possible to state that there were apparitions or supernatural revelations,’
Reiterating what the Church has already declared, Archbishop Vigano added
It follows, therefore, that clerics and the faithful are not permitted to participate in meetings, conferences or public celebrations during which the credibility of such ‘apparitions’ would be taken for granted.
The letter and accompanying article can be found here. While it is curious that the CDF would issue this reminder, the faithful should be cautious of media presentations referring to this letter as a “bombshell.” Archbishop Vigano, on behalf of the Prefect of the CDF, is simply reiterating what the Church has already stated in the past (in the 1991 “Zadar Declaration” asserting that the apparitions were “non constat de supernaturalitate” [not established as supernatural]and via Bishop Ratko Peric in 1997). A formal investigation by the Vatican began in 2010, and it is expected that a decision regarding the alleged apparitions will be made and published in the near future.
Requiescat en Pace
On Friday, October 18, Eric Stoutz, former director of CUF’s Catholic Responses Department passed from this life to the next.
Eric’s heroic suffering throughout his battle with pancreatic cancer was a witness to his family and friends, and he submitted himself to God’s perfect will in order that a greater good might be brought about from his trial. In the midst of our sadness, we cannot help but rejoice that while Eric has shared in Christ’s Cross, we believe he will also share in His Resurrection.
Please join us in praying for the repose of Eric’s soul and all the souls of the faithful departed.
A “Double Header” Canonization
In response to the announcement that Popes John XXIII and John Paul II will be canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday, 2014, papal biographer George Weigel comments on the appropriateness of this two pontiffs sharing a canonization date. Read his commentary here.
“An Ounce of Prevention…”
Consider the following dialogue:
Q: “So in other words, a woman who finds herself pregnant at age 15 will have a higher breast cancer risk if she chooses to abort that pregnancy than if she carries the pregnancy to term, correct?”
A: “Probably, yes.”
The only thing surprising about this matter-of-fact admission is that it was made by a scientist appearing under oath as a witness for a group of abortionists, for the purpose of making the case against the abortion-breast cancer (ABC) link!
Why does abortion have any influence over a woman’s future risk of contracting breast cancer?
Almost immediately after conception, a mother’s ovaries begin secreting ever increasing quantities of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen’s job is to make the cells in the breasts proliferate, so that the breasts will become large enough to feed the baby after birth. It is not until the third trimester – until about 32 weeks gestation – that other hormones make these cells differentiate into milk-producing tissues. If this process is interrupted by abortion (or even live birth) before differentiation takes place, a woman is left with more cancer-vulnerable cells in her breasts than were there before she became pregnant. This translates into a higher risk of breast cancer later in life.
Importantly, most pregnancies that end in spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) do so because of inadequate hormonal secretion by the ovaries. Consequently, there is no substantial overexposure to growth-promoting estrogen, and no increase in the risk of breast cancer.
To learn more about the ABC link discussion, read the full article.
Chesterton is Everywhere!
