Rocco Palmo has the scoop. Scroll down a bit to see that Mexico has legalized abortion in a huge surprise, and a sad one for the many who will die because of it.

I’m sure that many of the poorer hispanic countries might try to follow suit now that Mexico has done so. Let’s pray that we can all start to take care of the unborn and the women who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy better. It’s up to us folks!

Check this link out for an upcoming PBS show called A History of Disbelief.

In Case you missed it a few weeks back:

by Cubbies Rule

Here’s some video of the Va Tech killer. This was a total copycat of Columbine. I state in my book that this event really was an important one for people who lived through it–that it really effected them, some drastically so. The one time I really hoped I’d be wrong about something….

BY CUBBIES RULE

As I look at the word of the young man who shot and killed all those people yesterday, I think of my own research in the religiosity of young people.  I have stated rather publicly that for younger people Columbine was a seminal event that spoke to them in varied ways.  Theirs is a world that is based on fear and security and they therefore react that was religiously…looking for more order, tradition, truth, strong preaching, knowing where the line is.

 However, by the same token, other less stable individuals also react to their longing for order with a distaste for any kind of dis-order.  I believe this is what was displayed here by Mr Cho who called his classmates charletans railed against the immorality he saw on campus–especially from women.  It is this kind of hate that we must speak out against and be mindful of people’s longings for truth and our responsibility to mentor people towards appropriate behavior with regards to their search for truth–especially those with a prediliction for mental illness or those already with a diagnosis.

Sometimes in a world that seems nihlistic, those who cannot deal with what they deem immoral join in the nihlism unconsciously or even amongst the pathological–intentionally.

Let us pray today that we may be able to make some sense of a world often seen as senseless for those amongst us who are struggling. 

BY CUBBIES RULE

Not sure if anyone saw this column I wrote but:

Imus in the Maelstrom

A former staff member wonders if the joke’s on us

By THEOLOGIENNE

I don’t know about you, but I get the most done when I’m doing it as procrastination from something else, if that makes sense.
 
So this weekend, in between collecting my tax info and actually doing something with it, I’m going to be working on a submission for this Young Women And Catholicism anthology two Boston students are putting together. You should too! You know, at least until we get comments working again, the females out there can have somewhere to send all their witty and pithy thoughts on faith. (Guys–sorry.) They want your essays by the end of the day Monday, so warm up those typing fingers!

In the intersection of faith and culture, we take time to be still and reflect and know that God exists.

BY CUBBIES RULE

From a recent posting over at Open Book:

Two key signs for discerning a good spiritual director:

Does he say the mass with great reverence and prayerfulness and care, great holiness? If he seems inattentive, too casual or business-like, he probably does not have the level of spiritual development a good director needs.
Does he hear confessions with great prayerfulness and attentiveness? Does he take sin seriously? Is it like sitting with Jesus in the confessional? If he seems rushed or inattentive, or doesn’t take sin seriously, again he probably doesn’t have the development you need.

This seems overly superficial to me. I’ve known men of great prayer who are awesome directors in leading people to find God in their lives. While the sacraments and mass are important, we are not AND WE NEVER SHOULD BE, Sunday-only Catholics. Good directors are integrated–they are holy at all times and not just (and not even especially) during mass. Someone who is too “other-worldly” is often a very poor spiritual director who lacks maturity and the necessary insight to lead someone to great spiritual depth and integration.

What thinkest y’all?

As we head towards the end of our time we ask that you spend at least one half hour in silent reflection.

Perhaps reading the Online Stations of the Cross or experiencing the seven last words of Jesus or simply journaling can be part of this experience. Our main purpose here is to reflect not only on our lives and our retreat experience–but rather, how we have come to know God and to examine where we miss God’s presence and where we can shore up our resolve to keep God in the center of our lives.

You can find the online stations of the cross here