On June 30, 2015, the feast of the Christians martyred under Nero in 64 A.D., our Holy Father, Pope Francis, remarked that there are more persecuted Christians in the world today than there were in the first centuries. Each month 180 Christians are being martyred. These sad statistics bear witness to the fact that Christians are among the most persecuted religious groups worldwide.
The recent Supreme Court decision
“Obergefell et al. v Hodges” has now redefined the legal definition of marriage in our country. Responding to the cultural trends of the last sixty years, the judges have made a decision that will affect not only those individuals who decide to enter same-sex unions, but every citizen and institution within the nation.
Even before the June 18, 2015 publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment (‘Laudato Si’), the media delighted in reporting voices both approving and disapproving of his speaking on the subject. No doubt the debate will continue. But, this is a good thing. In his 184-page letter, the Holy Father addressed his words to “every person on this planet,” hoping to stir up discussion on an issue that touches every living creature and the world itself.
History records the sad fact that disputes over religious tenets have led to war, even within Christendom. At the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, differences in religion ignited fires on the battlefield. To end the first large-scale conflict, in 1555, The Peace of Augsburg declared that every ruler had the power to determine the religion of his realm.
Media headlines throughout the world have been trumpeting Ireland’s recent acceptance of same-sex “marriage” as the coming of age of Catholics in today’s world. There are 19 other countries that have previously accepted the proposition that equality for gays and lesbians means redefining marriage to include same-sex couples.
Every year on the last weekend in May, hot dogs, barbecues, parades, yard sales and the escape to a shore or lake home usher in the summer. For the young, the ending of the scholastic year is on the horizon; for the adults, a much needed vacation from work.
For the last 10 years, polls have indicated a steady increase in support of same-sex unions. In fact, The Wall Street Journal recently reported a March-February 2015 poll showing that 59 percent of Americans now support same-sex “marriages.”
True greatness is born in a cradle tended by a loving mother. The long list of those who have recognized this reality includes statesmen, inventors, scientists, preachers and even comedians. Our first president, George Washington, observed that “all I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”
For our young people, living in the days of no television, no cell phones, no Internet, coal furnaces and peddlers going through the streets places their grandparents and great grandparents in the Dark Ages. Within the last two generations, the rapid advances in technology have left their mark on every aspect of modern life from engineering to entertainment, from communication to commerce. We purchase one cell phone and, within less than a year, there is a more advanced model on the market.
Scholars who critically study the origins of the Christian faith ultimately come to the same conclusion. The Church would never have come into existence had the first followers of Jesus not been totally convinced that Jesus had been truly raised from the dead. Believers steadfastly witnessed to the Resurrection, even to the point of death. Unbelievers relentlessly challenged it. The Resurrection of Jesus is the very center of the Christian faith. (cf. Gary R. Habermas, The Resurrection Appearances of Jesus, (4Truth.net)
When Pope Leo III placed a crown on the head of Charlemagne on Christmas day in 800 A.D., the Holy Roman Empire emerged as the first attempt to recreate a vast political entity espousing the Christian gospel. From an empty grave outside the walls of Jerusalem to the thrones of the monarchs of Europe, the Christian faith spread its influence over society. Christianity began as a persecuted religion with its adherents hidden in their homes. It gradually became the dominant influence on Western civilization. (cf. Charles Scaliger, The Rise of Christendom
The disciples of Jesus are in hiding. Jesus has been crucified. They fear for their lives. But, early Easter morning, the courageous women come to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. Love casts out fear (1 Jn 4:18).
In our day, Christianity is disappearing from its birthplace in the Middle East. In countries from Lebanon to Sudan, Christians face persecution and martyrdom every day. Two hundred million Christians currently live under persecution.
On Feb. 6, the Canadian Supreme Court, in a unanimous 9-0 decision, made it legal nationwide for doctors to end the lives of terminally ill patients. No doubt this decision, taken by our close neighbors, will give added impetus to the movement in this country to legalize ending the lives of those in pain or suffering. At the present time, there are five states that allow physician-assisted suicide.
The Renaissance artist Veronese depicted the first miracle of Jesus in John’s gospel in a large scale painting designed for the refectory of the Benedictine monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. He deliberately transposed the biblical event from the time of Jesus to the 16th century. He turned a simple wedding banquet into a sumptuous feast.
With its white marble glistening in the hot sun, the ruins of Athens’ acropolis towers over the city below. From ancient times, the Parthenon has crowned the acropolis. It was the greatest sanctuary of the most important city of classical Greece. This magnificent temple housed the 40-foot statue of Athena, the virgin goddess of reason and the city’s patroness. Art historians consider this statue of Athena as one of the greatest achievements of sculpture. Covered with more than 1,500 pounds of solid gold, this statue was the single greatest financial asset of ancient Athens. However, the Parthenon is much more than the repository of this precious cult image.
Benjamin Franklin holds the great distinction of being not only one of America’s founding fathers, but also one of her most cherished sons. He was statesman, writer, inventor and philosopher. In our age of increasing specialization, the breadth of his contributions staggers the mind. The Franklin stove, the lightning rod, swim fins, the glass armonica, the flexible catheter and bifocal glasses, to name a few.
Nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees in southwestern France is the small town of Lourdes. Its population of 15,000 swells every tourist season to more than 5,000,000. Lourdes has more hotels per square kilometer than any other city in France except Paris. Ever since the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous on Feb. 11, 1858, there have been more than 200 million people who have come to pray at this shrine.
Oxford University Press has a long and distinguished history. From its humble birth in 1480 when it began to publish the Bible, it has grown to be the largest publishing house in the world. Since it publishes educational materials for use in more than 150 countries, its overseers are very much aware of the broad range of religious, social and cultural differences of those whom they service.
In 1993, Oregon’s present governor, John Kitzhaber, then a state senator and a doctor, worked hard to make health care available for the poor through a program that rationed benefits. His efforts, along with those of others, gave birth to the Oregon Health Plan. This was a major step in the reform of our national health care.