Paul Luvera Journal

MERRY CHRISTMAS Yes, I did mean "Christmas" and not happy "Holidays" or whatever is being substituted as the current politically correct neutral word in place of Christmas. That’s my gripe for today. I understand constitutional prohibitions against state imposed religions. I agree that a manager scene located on government property could be seen as inappropriate by some. But, I don’t understand all the tip toeing around by people like the Port of Seattle and other government agencies with their wringing…

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A friend of mine, Michael J. Schmitt died 20 years ago – November 10, 1987. I’m remembering him because he was a unique person. We met at St Martin’s College where he was studying pre-seminary classes. We took the same classes because I had transfered from the University of Washington to see if I belonged in the priesthood. I didn’t. He did. He went on to become a Roman Catholic priest and a good one too. Having been brought up…

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My favorite spiritual writer, William Barclay has written: "The true Christian loves Christ and loves his fellow men. More than that, he knows that he cannot show his love to Christ in any other way than by showing his love to his fellow men. However orthodox a Church is, however pure its theology and however noble its worship and its liturgy, it is not a true Church in the real sense of the term unless it is characterized by love…

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While at Mass on Sunday, it occurred to me from the readings and homily that there is so much religious legalism in America today. The conservative right wing Christian’s who are convinced that there is only one truth, which is so clear it is white from black and which only they exclusively posses. Only they possess the amazing ability to discern the exclusive truth. All who do not agree with their views are in sin. There is no room for…

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St Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke asserted in a recent article that priests and lay deacons who distribute communion "to the unworthy" are guilty of a "mortal sin." He specifically identifies the unworthy as politicians who support abortion rights. He says this also applies to any Catholic who publically supports abortion rights as well. The National Catholic Reporter says Bishop Burke is a "a veteran of clashes between Catholic Bishops and politicians" having tried for years to convince his fellow bishops…

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Fr. Peter Phan is a prominent Vietnamese-American theologian. He is currently a professor at Georgetown University. In 2001 he was the president of the Catholic Theological Society of American. He has written over 300 essays and twenty books. He is the most respected Asian American theologian in the U.S. but his 2004 book, Being Religious Interreligiously, has caused a Vatican investigation of his writings. As explained in the September 28th issue of the National Catholic Reporter, Phan believes that while…

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Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light is a recent book about the late Mother Teresa of India. The media has been discussing the disclosure that in her private writings she describes her religious experience as "dry" "empty" "dark" and "devoid of all feeling." It appears that the founder of the Missionaries of Charity struggled for almost half a century with a desolate prayer life, but continued to serve God anyway. She experienced problems accepting God’s existence and presence in her…

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The Los Angeles Times published an article about Catholic’s and confession. It says in the mid 1960’s thirty eight percent of Catholics went to confession at least once a month, but today only two percent go. Through most of the twentieth century Catholics viewed confession as a sacrament and a solemn obligation, but no longer. The article says there are now website’s where you can log in and anonymously list your sins. Of course, these are not sites sanctioned by…

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I’ve previously written about the world’s major religions https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2006/11/outline_of_the_.html. Former Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright wrote a book The Mighty & The Almighty which I read when it first came out, but recently read some excerpts I had saved from the book. In a chapter Learning about Islam she reminds us that in 636 Christians fought Muslims over Jerusalem resulting in the death of 70,000 Christians and Islamic control of Jerusalem. In 1099 crusaders retook the…

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I’ve commented before about the Pope Benedict’s arch conservative background and the moderate position he seemed to assume after his election, but which soon began to be abandoned and his true conservative posture exposed. (See post 4/21/07) When he did say something that caused controversy, the Vatican would immediately offer a clarifying statement afterwords to mollify the protests. Time published an article about this entitled "Pope Benedict: "What I meant to say…" The mask regally began to slip on September…

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