Invest In Your Future . . . Eternity

Americans are always in search of investment opportunities, particularly during times like these when the U.S. economy is in, or near, a recession. The cost of living continues to escalate, causing us to worry about our current financial health and, even more, our retirement. Whether it is through 401Ks, IRAs, or pensions, we try and insulate ourselves from financial disaster. As Catholics it is important that we recognize our moral responsibilities as investors.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has posted on its website the guidelines that the Faithful should follow (http://www.usccb.org/finance/srig.shtml) when investing. After reviewing the guidelines a Catholic investor must use that knowledge to investigate the corporate practices of the companies they are considering doing business with. Do they take actions that run counter to Church doctrine or teachings?

For ex., on Feb 21, 2008, the AFA (American Family Association) released the “Top Ten Pro-Homosexual Sponsors on Television” (http://www.afa.net/monitoringwinter07.asp). The television shows considered by AFA were those with a homosexual lead or supporting character. A couple of the corporations may surprise you.

Other organizations similarly monitor the practices of corporations. For instance, several websites expose the companies that support abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. Other sites reveal the firms that manufacture their goods overseas using child labor. Whatever the issue of concern, there is information available about it and it is our responsibility as Catholics to find it. Admittedly, this can be time consuming, but luckily there are people who can direct us on the right path.

Luther King Capital Management (provider of the Aquinas Fund--http://www.aquinasfunds.com) and Invest Catholic (http://www.investcatholic.com) are two examples of groups who advertise that they help people invest according to Catholic principles. There are others. Find them. Speak to them. Take advantage of their knowledge. And remember, “It’s just business,” is not a valid reason for ignoring your Catholic responsibilities. There’s no such thing as separating your business from your Catholicism.

***Please be aware that I have never done business with either of the above mentioned companies, so I cannot personally vouch for their investment strategies or their commitment to honoring their mission statements. They are just examples***

Donald Tremblay

Perservere

In 1996 Justice Robert Bork wrote a best-selling book entitled, Slouching Towards Gomorrah. The synopsis on the book jacket reads, “In this New York Times best-selling book, Robert H. Bork, our country’s most distinguished conservative scholar offers a prophetic and unprecedented view of a culture in decline, a nation in such serious moral trouble that its very foundation is crumbling.” I often wonder whether the concept of Bork’s title is outdated—not because the arguments in his book don’t still apply, but because we have already reached Gomorrah

. Case in point:

WorldNetDaily.com has an article posted today about a new Colorado law that it says will levy penalties against people who criticize homosexuality outside Church walls (http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=66829)

In the article Focus on the Family analyst Bruce Hausknecht makes an excellent point when he states that one of the goals of laws such as these is to marginalize the Church: "They'll say, 'It's just a church.' It will allow gay activists to continue to marginalize Christians. They'll say, 'Keep it within your four walls. That's all.'" Hausknecht also acknowledges that "there are those who simply by publishing Christian materials could find themselves charged with a violation of this statute," he said.

Christ made it clear to His disciples that “You shall be hated by all men for my name's sake” (Luke 21:17). As Christians our very beliefs are anathema to society. And according to how the world judges victory, we are fighting a losing battle. Things will only continue to get worse as is made clear in The Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers.” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 675) Why is this so? Because since it is Christ’s Church, it must endure the same persecution, death, and resurrection that He suffered: “The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 677)

Nevertheless, despite the inevitability of the persecution we face, our responsibility as Catholic Christians is to defend the Word and win as many souls back to Christ as possible before the Final Judgment. For as Christ says, “It is impossible that scandals should not come: but woe to him through whom they come.” (Luke 17:1) The reality that evil is unavoidable in this world does not absolve us from battling against it. Yes, we are fighting a losing battle as the world defines victory, but our goals are different than the world’s goals. We seek to rescue souls for eternity, and each soul saved is a victory that is celebrated in Heaven.

Let’s persevere and focus on evangelizing one soul at a time.

Donald Tremblay

Go Forth

I was pleased to read on http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/205101?eng=y about the Vatican’s plans to prepare new guidelines for inter-religious dialogue. The subtitle of the article announces these welcome words, “Enough with the ceremonies. And more conviction in proclaiming the Gospel.”

Tolerance is the buzz word of our politically correct culture. We are obsessed with avoiding any appearance of imposing our beliefs on others. This misguided paranoia has infiltrated the Church and the Mystical Body of Christ to the degree that we Catholics have faltered in our responsibility to spread the Word. Many of us wear our Catholicism as if it is a Scarlet Letter.

We must remember that we are called to evangelize. And the word evangelize is not passive. It is active and it implies an aggressive, fervent attempt to bring people to Christ . . . particularly those who least want to hear it. In the above article Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran clearly expresses the responsibility all Catholics face:

"We know that the Holy Spirit works in every man and every woman, independently of his religious or spiritual creed. But on the other hand, we must proclaim that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God has revealed to us the truth about God and the truth about man, and for us this is the Good News. We cannot hide this truth under a bushel basket."

Let’s remember Christ’s final instruction to his apostles: “Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19). Christ did not instruct that we go forth and teach his message to only some nations. He said ALL nations. His demand is clear: The Truth must be spread to the ends of the earth.

The Lord will tolerate nothing less.

Donald Tremblay

Oprah and the New Age Movement

Recently I read a column that appeared on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s website (cbn.com) discussing Oprah Winfrey’s embracing of the latest New Age movements.

The column written by Andrea D. Hedlund (http://www.cbn.org/spirituallife/inspirationalteaching/Hedlund_BewareOFactor.aspx) states, “Like a chameleon, we have also watched her spiritual colors shift over the years.” She goes on to warn, “We should be alarmed by Oprah’s increasing hostility toward the truth of the Gospel and recent embrace of New Age philosophies like Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth and ‘The Secret.’”

As I read the column I was reminded of the research I did a few years ago for a priest who is writing a book on the return of Gnosticism, particularly through New Age practices and beliefs. The common denominator in all of the New Age “religions” I investigated is the embracing of Adam and Eve’s Original Sin: Pride. It is Man who should be worshipped because of our God-potential. These spiritualities teach that Jesus was merely an archetype, someone to be respected and even followed as a teacher but nothing more than that.

These New Age gurus teach we are all filled with the potential to be God and just need to unlock the divinity within us. Thus, we are all “Christ” and Jesus merely showed us one path to get there. Whether you follow Jesus, Buddha, or any other spiritual master doesn’t matter. All is Truth and no religion is more right than any other.

Because of our sinful nature it is tempting to embrace ideas that flatter ourselves. However, we must always remember that Jesus—and Jesus only—is God Incarnate. And as he said, “Without Me You Can Do Nothing” (John 15:5)

It is also important to remind ourselves of Christ’s warning in Matthew’s Gospel: “If anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 10; 32-33)

Obama’s Hardly “Catholic Advisory Council”

This presidential campaign’s award for “Oxymoronic Term” goes to Barack Obama. Obama’s “Catholic Advisory Council” is Catholic in name only, which is fitting since Catholic ideals are as essential to Obama’s political platform as the appendix is to the proper functioning of the human body. Sure Obama may agree with the Church on issues such as the Iraq War or Immigration, but when it comes to the issues regarding life and its beginnings (abortion and embryonic stem cell research) his views could not be more anti-Catholic. For ex., in a Catholic News Agency column analyzing the members of Obama’s pseudo Catholic council, Deal W. Hudson states, “five senators and 13 House members have earned 100 percent pro-abortion ratings from NARAL” (http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/column.php?n=216)

If you want to know where Obama really stands concerning Catholic teachings, just review his voting record.

· From 2005-2007 the NARAL Pro Choice America has given Obama a 100% for his Congressional Record on Choice. Here is a quote from a speech given by Obama celebrating the 35-year anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. It is posted on the NARAL website at http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/statements/obama.html: “Throughout my career, I've been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America”.

· As reported by the website www.HumanEvents.com, Obama voted against bill SB 1661 (2002), listed as a part of the Born Alive Infant Protection Package that “would create a cause of action of a child is born alive after an abortion and the child is then neglected through failure to provide medical care after birth”.

· A press release posted on Obama’s senatorial website (http://obama.senate.gov/press/070411-obama_renews_su/) expresses his support for embryonic stem cell research. The headline of the Wednesday, April 11, 2007 release reads, Obama Renews Support for Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Obama is then quoted saying, “I stand in full support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act as I did when this bill was introduced and sent to the President’s desk in the 109th Congress. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.” He also makes it clear that he understands little as to why opponents disagree, “I am frustrated by the opposition this bill has generated and saddened that we are preventing the advancement of important science that could potentially impact millions of suffering Americans.”

Forget Obama’s eloquence, his engaging smile, and his appeals to moderation. This is a candidate whose views are as antagonistic to Church teachings as any presidential nominee in American history.

Donald Tremblay