Last June, the Catholic League called out Bill Maher for comments that were anti-Catholic. Now, Bill Maher is back at it again … this time bashing the Pope during his visit to the U.S.

Maher, after going off on the recent bust of the polygamist cult in Texas, turned his attention to the Pope and the Catholic Church …

“I’d like to tip off law enforcement to an even larger child-abusing religious cult,” Maher told his audience. “Its leader also has a compound, and this guy not only operates outside the bounds of the law, but he used to be a Nazi and he wears funny hats. That’s right, the Pope is coming to America this week and, ladies, he’s single.”

The news story at CNSNews.com gives some other examples of Maher’s anti-Catholic, anti-religion rants.

Time to Fire Bill Maher!

One commenter on the thread about Maher’s previous comments speaks about Maher’s “comedy”...


Ha-Ha-Ha- Everything is “Funny” today!
There are no “Boundary Lines” anymore.
Take videos of young girls beating the crap out each other and post it, and its funny. This is the new generation!

Yep … is this what passes for “funny” these days?

Yes, I’m alive and well …

I have some plans now for some upcoming postings (still!) and comments are finally working again! Yea

Working on lots of non-blog, offline, job-related kinda stuff.

Hope everyone is having a blessed and reflective Lent so far.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to getting back into the swing of things soon.

Pax!

It’s 2008 … the second week of 2008(!) and I figured it was time to make my first posting of the year. :-)

I can hardly believe that I went from making almost a post or two a day, to making about one a month!

I’ve tried to make a New Year’s resolution to make at least one blog per week. (This might be it for this week… :-) ) I would really like to get back into the swing of things, and have some ideas for some topics.

I would ask you all for topics, but, unfortunately, comments are still down and I haven’t figured out why. I am probably going to contact my host to figure out the server configuration and why the comments are giving the error.

In the meanwhile, if you’ve got any thoughts about topics that you’d like to hear my opinion on :-) feel free to drop me a line at catholic at catholicsphere dot com ( of course putting in the appropriate symbols instead of the words ‘at’ and ‘dot’).

Happy New Year!

A Child Is Born For Us Today!

    And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor in Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David.) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

    And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

    And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

    And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

    And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

    And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

    And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. and when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

    And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. and it was revealed unto him by Holy Ghost , that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

    Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

    And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sward shall pierce through thy own soul also,)that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. and she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

    Matthew 2:1-23 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

    And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

    Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

    When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

    And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

    When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

    Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

    But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled with was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called Nazarene.

Ok … so the upgrade went well as far as I can tell at the moment. But, comments are still broken. :-(

I’m thinking this is a file permissions issue, but I’m still looking into the problem.

I’m upgrading the blog software to the latest release … so things may become unavailable (including this message)... :-)

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

Have a blessed, restful and happy Thanksgiving!

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The following has been confirmed at Snopes.com, which provides more detail on information circulating in emails:

Parental Warning:
You may already know about this children’s movie coming out in December starring Nicole Kidman. It’s called “The Golden Compass”, and while it will be a watered down version, it is based on a series of children’s books about killing God (it’s anti-Narnia). Please follow this link and then pass it on. From what I understand, the hope is to get a lot of kids to see the movie – which won’t seem too bad – and then get the parents to buy the books for their kids for Christmas. The quotes from the author sum it all up. It’s very disturbing.

Bill Donohue, President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, has condemned the film, and has provided more information here:

“Atheism for kids. That is what Philip Pullman sells. It is his hope that ‘The Golden Compass,’ which stars Nicole Kidman and opens December 7, will entice parents to buy his trilogy as a Christmas gift. It is our hope that the film fails to meet box office expectations and that his books attract few buyers. We are doing much more than hoping—we are conducting a nationwide two-month protest of Pullman’s work and the film. To that end, we have prepared a booklet, ‘The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked,’ that tears the mask off the movie.

In another article protesting the film, Donohue states:

The second book of the trilogy, The Subtle Knife, is more overt in its hatred of Catholicism than the first book, and the third entry, The Amber Spyglass, is even more blatant.

The Catholic League wants Christians to boycott this movie precisely because it knows that the film is bait for the books: unsuspecting parents who take their children to see the movie may be impelled to buy the three books as a Christmas present. And no parent who wants to bring their children up in the faith will want any part of these books.

Parents are encouraged to not see this film, not get the books, and tell their friends and neighbors about this subtle sell of atheism and anti-religion to their kids.

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Got this YouTube video from a friend tonight. I thought the message was really awesome!

In your darkest times, your toughest hours … God is fighting for you. The battle has been won.

I want to apologize to everyone who has been supportive of and reading this blog over the past 3 years …

I’m sorry that I haven’t been posting anything recently. I don’t know why but I’ve just not felt like writing anything “Catholic” lately—not to mention some busy-ness with other things.

That ever happen to anyone else?

I will say, though, that I happened across a forum that I used to frequent … a Catholic forum … where they were quite negative toward two visitors that were seeking God. From reading their comments, there didn’t appear to be any reason for the hostility. Because of that hostility, they didn’t feel comfortable asking questions there or learning more about the Catholic faith.

So, I invited them over to the CatholicSource or CatholicSphere forums on Delphi, feeling that it is our duty as a community to help each other in our walk with Christ. But, my offer was deleted and I was told that I shouldn’t try to lure their members away.

Yeah, cuz they would rather drive them away, right?!

But, I didn’t think this was a competition. Still they told me they didn’t want me “parking my car in their garage”.

One of the two people made it over to those forums. The other said that they no longer had any interest in Catholicism because of the rudeness of Catholics.

Now that the “Unofficial End of Summer” has come and gone … could this also mean that the frequency of my postings will pick up?

Perhaps!

I’ve got at least two posts in queue that I’m working on—not that its a lot of information or includes a ton of research or anything, just want to make sure my thoughts are clear.

The Christian life is supposed to punctuated by a joy, peace and happiness that transcends that of non-Christians. But lately I’ve been wondering if that’s really true.

In the early days of the Church there was an attraction to the Christian community. That attraction was a life that was quite different, and more contented, than that of “regular folks”.

Today, we hear about Christian men who are now struggling with pornography, Christian men and women who are having extra-marital affairs and are divorcing at rates that mirror that of the larger population, and pastors and priests who gave in to everything from gravely sinful sexual desires to embezzlement to con artistry.

It led me to contemplate, are they truly happy? Have they really found the happiness and peace and joy that we profess and believe that only Christ Jesus can bring?

It does not seem that these folks have. And the question that comes from that is: what is the missing link?

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It’s been 3 years since I made my first blog post to CatholicSphere. Wow, how time flies!

I had no idea where things would take me, or what material I was going to provide. Unfortunately, CatholicSphere hasn’t taken off the way I would have liked—the blogosphere often being fickle—and burnout or busy-ness has haunted me at times … but it still allows me to be opinionated about whatever I feel.

I’ve been nominated for Catholic Blog Awards and the Blogger’s Choice Awards … but never come close to winning. I still feel like I’m offering information and insights that can be of value, and thus will trudge on with CatholicSphere.

I want to thank those of you who have supported CatholicSphere via links, thoughts, comments, encouragement or even admonishing. It’s been a bumpy ride … and 3 years seems like a really long time, at least to me, in blogosphere years.

Certainly I welcome any thoughts and advice that anyone has on how I could improve CatholicSphere, or what direction I could take it that would fill a niche.

But, mostly, I just wanted to say thanks to the readers and contributors.

May God bless you and keep you, and may His face shine upon you.

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Just wanted to highlight the fact that I have finally posted a response on Faith alone still not alone to the comment from UnworthySaints.com.

Take a look, add your thoughts or questions.

You can either click the link above, or click here to go directly to the comment.

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That Catholic Show, Episode #6: You Are A Priest Forever, from The Rosary Army has been posted.

After you view the episode, which is conveniently embedded in this post ;-) be sure to go over to their site and leave them a comment. And, if you’ve missed any of the previous episodes, be sure to check those out too!

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