Catholic Agenda
Catholic Agenda
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
You Will Be Hated By All
American Catholics battle daily against cultural forces antagonistic to Christ and his Church. But our disagreements with liberal politicians, the media, and “progressive” educators are nothing compared to the persecution suffered by our Christian brethren in other parts of the world. Case in point: Yesterday in India , in retaliation for the assassination of the World Hindu Council leader by suspected Maoists, Hindu extremists “set an orphanage on fire in Khuntapali village in Barhgarh district, burning a Catholic nun to death, according to the All India Christian Council.” (http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/11580889/)
Throughout the world each day Christians risk martyrdom by their very existence. The website www.christianpersecition.info provides links to articles from around the world detailing the mistreatment of Christ’s followers. Here are just a few of the headlines:
· American Pastor Disappears In Beijing After ProtestAdded: Aug 25th, 2008 8:53 AM
· Yemen Detains Nine Ex-Muslims For Converting To ChristianityAdded: Aug 25th, 2008 4:42 AM
· Pastor Attacked, Churches Burned in Wake of Swami's Murder in Orissa, IndiaAdded: Aug 25th, 2008 4:37 AM
· Six Missionaries and a Bible College Student Beaten in UttarakhandAdded: Aug 21st, 2008 3:13 AM
· Indonesia: Muslim Mob Storms Church, Calls for BanAdded: Aug 21st, 2008 3:11 AM
· China: Religious Freedoms Threatened as Olympics Draw to CloseAdded: Aug 21st, 2008 3:09 AM
· Malaysia: Court Denies Woman's Appeal to Leave IslamAdded: Aug 18th, 2008 3:42 AM
· Nigeria: Islamist Group Attacking Christians in Kwara StateAdded: Aug 18th, 2008 3:39 AM
· Student Attacked Over Gospel TractAdded: Aug 18th, 2008 3:37 AM
Truly, Christ had these people in mind when he warned, “You will be hated by all because of my name”. (Mark 9:13)
Let us take a moment today to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who risk their lives daily when they worship the Lord—something that we too often take for granted.
Our prayers are desperately needed.
Donald Tremblay
Why?
Sometimes you have to wonder what people are thinking.
Yesterday, Father Antonio Rungi of the Italian diocese of Modragone announced that he would hold a beauty pageant for nuns next month. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2615888/Beauty-pageant-for-Italian-nuns.html) Father Rungi expects about 1,000 nuns to compete for the title of “Miss Sister Italy” in a pageant that will be broadcast online. Why is he doing this? "’Nuns are above all women and beauty is a gift from God. . . . You really think all nuns are old, stunted and sad? This isn't the case any more, thanks to the arrival in our country of young and vital nuns,’ notably from Africa and Latin America , he added.” Sisters who would like to participate must answer profile forms and submit a photo. It is their option as to whether they’d like to compete wearing their habit or not.
One has to wonder whether Father Rungi has been over-indulging in the celebratory wine. Of what value could this spectacle possibly serve? The vanity of a beauty pageant is contrary to the selfless vows taken by nuns when they join a religious order. The self-sacrifice required to live this life is why many orders insist that their sisters wear the traditional habit. A habit submerges the ego and teaches an initiate that she is simply one member of a larger group whose single role is to serve Christ . . . even at the expense of her own desires.
What’s next? A swimsuit competition?
Donald Tremblay
Yesterday, Father Antonio Rungi of the Italian diocese of Modragone announced that he would hold a beauty pageant for nuns next month. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2615888/Beauty-pageant-for-Italian-nuns.html) Father Rungi expects about 1,000 nuns to compete for the title of “Miss Sister Italy” in a pageant that will be broadcast online. Why is he doing this? "’Nuns are above all women and beauty is a gift from God. . . . You really think all nuns are old, stunted and sad? This isn't the case any more, thanks to the arrival in our country of young and vital nuns,’ notably from Africa and Latin America , he added.” Sisters who would like to participate must answer profile forms and submit a photo. It is their option as to whether they’d like to compete wearing their habit or not.
One has to wonder whether Father Rungi has been over-indulging in the celebratory wine. Of what value could this spectacle possibly serve? The vanity of a beauty pageant is contrary to the selfless vows taken by nuns when they join a religious order. The self-sacrifice required to live this life is why many orders insist that their sisters wear the traditional habit. A habit submerges the ego and teaches an initiate that she is simply one member of a larger group whose single role is to serve Christ . . . even at the expense of her own desires.
What’s next? A swimsuit competition?
Donald Tremblay
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