I am so pleased that the Holy Father is helping the Legionaries of Christ through the crisis they are in. They are such a gift to the Church, and thanks to the gentle pastoral leadership of Pope Benedict, they will be able to weather this storm and emerge stronger than ever.
"The Holy Father," Cardinal Bertone continues, "is aware of the noble ideals that inspire you and the fortitude and prayerful spirit with which you are facing the current changes. He encourages you to continue seeking the good of the Church and society by means of your own distinctive initiatives and institutions."
"In this regard, you can always count on the help of the Holy See, so that with truth and transparency, in a climate of fraternal and constructive dialogue, you will overcome the present difficulties."
Read the entire article at CNS.
Showing posts with label Legionaries of Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Legionaries of Christ. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Time magazine discusses exorcisms
Exoricism is making a comeback in the Church, and this journalist investigated the Legion of Christ course on exorcism in Rome. He discussed with Time Magazine how the subject was treated by priests immediately after Vatican II and today. "
"You write about how most priests don't even like to talk about exorcism, that they find the idea distasteful. Why is that?There's a lot of taboo when it comes to the devil and evil itself. Parishioners don't want to hear about Satan and evil and sin. Father Gary, he's in his 50s, and he was ordained in the late '70s. During that period, you had a lot of turmoil in conjunction with Vatican II shaking up the church and getting rid of many very old traditions, the Latin mass and those sorts of things. But you have to look at priests themselves as being creatures of their environment. Coupled with that were all this these new psychoanalytical approaches that were uncovering a lot of things that in the past were considered to be in the realm of the spiritual. I think a lot of priests saw that and said, Let's just keep becoming more modern and more open and don't worry about all these "medieval things."
And as a result, many exorcists are marginalized within the church.I had priests tell me that their superiors belittled the fact that they were exorcists. Interestingly, though, the newer generation of priests are more responsive to the reality of the devil, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that John Paul II was and Pope Benedict XVI is a little more conservative, so the younger seminarians are a little less apt to ridicule. The older priests of Father Gary's generation didn't want to talk about it.
Read the entire story here.
HT National Catholic Register Blog
"You write about how most priests don't even like to talk about exorcism, that they find the idea distasteful. Why is that?There's a lot of taboo when it comes to the devil and evil itself. Parishioners don't want to hear about Satan and evil and sin. Father Gary, he's in his 50s, and he was ordained in the late '70s. During that period, you had a lot of turmoil in conjunction with Vatican II shaking up the church and getting rid of many very old traditions, the Latin mass and those sorts of things. But you have to look at priests themselves as being creatures of their environment. Coupled with that were all this these new psychoanalytical approaches that were uncovering a lot of things that in the past were considered to be in the realm of the spiritual. I think a lot of priests saw that and said, Let's just keep becoming more modern and more open and don't worry about all these "medieval things."
And as a result, many exorcists are marginalized within the church.I had priests tell me that their superiors belittled the fact that they were exorcists. Interestingly, though, the newer generation of priests are more responsive to the reality of the devil, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that John Paul II was and Pope Benedict XVI is a little more conservative, so the younger seminarians are a little less apt to ridicule. The older priests of Father Gary's generation didn't want to talk about it.
Read the entire story here.
HT National Catholic Register Blog
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Fr Jonathan Morris' opinion of Sarah Palin's motherhood
Many good Catholic mothers have been disagreeing on this one. Let's listen to Fr. Jonathan on what kind of mothering Sarah Palin has time to do.
I do not know if Gov. Sarah Palin will make a good Vice-President. I do know she is being an exceptional mom, also in moments of crisis. Some have said, in many, many ways, “Big deal!”
But most of these are men.
I ask if any of us guys could be a mom of five, with a handicapped child, achieve an 83% approval rating as state governor, and smile all the way through a prime time speech, after the week this woman has just had.
But most of these are men.
I ask if any of us guys could be a mom of five, with a handicapped child, achieve an 83% approval rating as state governor, and smile all the way through a prime time speech, after the week this woman has just had.
Good point, Father. It takes a mom to multi-task like that!
Read his entire article at Fox News blog.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Defending the Dignity of the Unborn in Bioethics Circles
Last Friday, I attended Bioethics International's Conference hosted by Jennifer Miller in the UN Church Center. A panel of professionals responsible for the training of doctors in the various teaching hospitals in New York and Yale University as well as some of the leading policymakers in the UN Non-governmental Organizations were there.
Is is redundant to say that the Catholic Church was constantly under fire, and that the ideas of objective moral truth and the dignity of the human person, from the moment of conception was mocked?
Only two of the speakers defended these eternal truths, Jennifer of the Culture of Life Foundation (I'll write an entire post on her later) and Fr. Berg of the Westchester Institute who is an expert on Natural Law. Here is the latest column from the Westchester Institute, defending the dignity of the unborn baby.
I will be covering the Conference greater detail in subsequent posts. I was given a glimpse into the future not only of the USA, but the entire world, if Barack Obama is elected, and it terrified me. As a hint, take this fact; the first Western aid to reach Myramar was NOT food, water, or medicine; it was condoms.
Is is redundant to say that the Catholic Church was constantly under fire, and that the ideas of objective moral truth and the dignity of the human person, from the moment of conception was mocked?
Only two of the speakers defended these eternal truths, Jennifer of the Culture of Life Foundation (I'll write an entire post on her later) and Fr. Berg of the Westchester Institute who is an expert on Natural Law. Here is the latest column from the Westchester Institute, defending the dignity of the unborn baby.
I will be covering the Conference greater detail in subsequent posts. I was given a glimpse into the future not only of the USA, but the entire world, if Barack Obama is elected, and it terrified me. As a hint, take this fact; the first Western aid to reach Myramar was NOT food, water, or medicine; it was condoms.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Theology 101 and me
There's a reason that Theology is rarely discussed here. After a year of Catholic high school Theology where I learned the historical critical method, which 'explains' all the miracles in the Bible as natural events, I shied away from Theology for fear of losing my faith. Everything I know about Theology I learned from my personal reading and EWTN.
I still have a lot of catching up to do and I'm not going to display my ignorance here. My one strength is knowing where to go to get reliable Theology, and seeking to improve my knowlege in odd moments in my busy days.
I am just beginning to understand the concept of Natural Law, for instance. Here is a short introduction to Natural Law from a fellow at the Westchester Institute.
I still have a lot of catching up to do and I'm not going to display my ignorance here. My one strength is knowing where to go to get reliable Theology, and seeking to improve my knowlege in odd moments in my busy days.
I am just beginning to understand the concept of Natural Law, for instance. Here is a short introduction to Natural Law from a fellow at the Westchester Institute.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
"'Bella' is the Fruit of Regnum Christi"
I received this email from Regnum Christi, the lay movement of the Legionaries of Christ.
Bella is an award-winning movie directed and produced by Regnum Christi members who wanted to use
their talents for a noble mission.
Director Alejandro Monteverde, starring actor Eduardo Verastegui, and producer Sean Wolfington got into the film-making business for more than a profit. They wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. And so, Bella was born: a beautiful pro-humanity movie that wins respect by its own merits as a work of art, and wins hearts because it touches people on a level deeper than any argument can reach. It’s a simple story about real people with flaws, mistakes, and a tragic past who are nonetheless capable of rising to the occasion and making extraordinary decisions. It’s about people who take a risk and give love and life a chance, in spite of the past.
The Regnum Christi team behind Metanoia Films wanted to show the beauty of love and life in such a way that it would change people’s lives. What they didn’t imagine was that this movie would also save lives. So far, Bella has already given hundreds of women se
cond thoughts about pregnancies they were thinking of terminating. After seeing the film, they took a risk and gave loveand lifea chance.
Bella has already shown its true colors in the awards it has won and in the lives it has saved. By its artistic merits alone, Bella won the People’s Choice Award at the largest film festival in the world, the Toronto International Film Festival. This is no small feat; past winners have included Life is Beautiful, American Beauty, Crouching Tiger, Hotel Rwanda, and Chariots of Fire, among others. Director Alejandro Monteverde was honored at the White House for his contribution to arts and culture, and the Smithsonian Latino Center granted him the Legacy Award for outstanding achievement. Critics note the movie’s “freshness and lack of affectation,” while it is “incredibly charming,” and “complex and sophisticated while losing none of the humor.” And there is some talk of the Oscars and Academy Awards which tend to follow past winners of the Toronto Film Festival.
But all of those awards are secondary in comparison to Bella’s true mission, which is to recall people to what is most important in life, to remind them of their own humanity and of the beauty of choosing life and learning to love. If a movie like Bella is widely viewed across the nation, it could be a significant factor in turning the tide toward a culture of life.
And that’s where we come in, as Regnum Christi members and apostles.
Our Mission to Support Bella The Regnum Christi team behind Metanoia Films is asking all Movement members to rally in support of what is really a pro-life, pro-values apostolate: they want you to share in Bella’s mission by adopting a theater and inviting everyone you know to the movie’s debut on the big screens during its opening week, which begins this October 26th. And while you’re at it, you may as well invite three other friends to adopt theaters in their own area as well. This would multiply Bella’s impact exponentially in theaters nationwide.
Adopting a theater is easier than it looks. All you have to do is go to the website and click on the ADOPT THEATER button on the home page or call 1-888-474-6025. The web page or the phone operator will help you reserve a standard 300 person theater at an average of $10 per ticket, for a total cost of $3,000.
Sound steep? Don’t worry, you can reduce costs by making a $3,000 donation to a local non-profit organization, such as your parish or section, which can then buy the tickets and help distribute them to individual buyers. The non-profit donation allows for a tax break that cuts the net cost in half. This tax break would then allow for a profit margin on ticket sales in case the section wants to use the Bella movie as a fundraiser for a local crisis pregnancy center or some other good cause.
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words The pro-life battle has long been fought with words, and there comes a time when pictures and stories convince more deeply than rational arguments, especially on such a volatile issue as an unwanted pregnancy. Bella is a picture, a story that convinces on the level of the heart; it touches the spot where most women make their deepest decisions for or against life. The mix of simplicity, humanity, humor, and pathos makes its message even stronger; seeing this movie makes people think again about what it means to be human, and what it means to give joy to another person.
Such potential should not be squandered or left to be just a flash in the pan. The movie needs our help in order to have all the impact it could have on people’s lives, and the upcoming premiere on October 26th offers us the perfect opportunity to do just that. If Regnum Christi members, teams, and sections across North America take up the mission of promoting Bella, we will have done something significant to evangelize our country and change the tide on the culture of death. We can reach all kinds of people from all walks of life, and use this movie as an introduction to the human and Christian values that make life worth living. With intelligent promotion and good follow-up, Bella could be the perfect vehicle to reach our unchurched peers in secular society.
The Bella promotion effort could also be a great way to introduce more people to Regnum Christi; after all, as producer Sean Wolfington himself said, “Bella is the fruit of Regnum Christi” and it shows in action what the Movement is all about: evangelizing by bringing human and Gospel values to modern culture in the most effective way possible; adapting to the needs of time and place in a media-driven culture; working vertex-to-base with real artistic talent but also person-to-person on the grass roots level (get going on those ticket sales!); helping people to accomplish more by working as a team. Bella is the fruit of Regnum Christi because it fulfills our essential mission: to make the truth shine in all its beauty and to bring souls to Christ.
It is true that one swallow does not a summer make; one battle won’t win the war, and it will take a lot more than a movie to change American culture and make everyone rediscover what it means to be open to life and love. But if a movie can change or save even one life—and Bella has already saved hundreds before hitting the big screens”then it’s well worth the effort.
Call it the chance of a lifetime”yours and someone else’s.
To buy tickets and view the new trailer, visit the website
Bella is an award-winning movie directed and produced by Regnum Christi members who wanted to use
their talents for a noble mission.Director Alejandro Monteverde, starring actor Eduardo Verastegui, and producer Sean Wolfington got into the film-making business for more than a profit. They wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. And so, Bella was born: a beautiful pro-humanity movie that wins respect by its own merits as a work of art, and wins hearts because it touches people on a level deeper than any argument can reach. It’s a simple story about real people with flaws, mistakes, and a tragic past who are nonetheless capable of rising to the occasion and making extraordinary decisions. It’s about people who take a risk and give love and life a chance, in spite of the past.
The Regnum Christi team behind Metanoia Films wanted to show the beauty of love and life in such a way that it would change people’s lives. What they didn’t imagine was that this movie would also save lives. So far, Bella has already given hundreds of women se
cond thoughts about pregnancies they were thinking of terminating. After seeing the film, they took a risk and gave loveand lifea chance.Bella has already shown its true colors in the awards it has won and in the lives it has saved. By its artistic merits alone, Bella won the People’s Choice Award at the largest film festival in the world, the Toronto International Film Festival. This is no small feat; past winners have included Life is Beautiful, American Beauty, Crouching Tiger, Hotel Rwanda, and Chariots of Fire, among others. Director Alejandro Monteverde was honored at the White House for his contribution to arts and culture, and the Smithsonian Latino Center granted him the Legacy Award for outstanding achievement. Critics note the movie’s “freshness and lack of affectation,” while it is “incredibly charming,” and “complex and sophisticated while losing none of the humor.” And there is some talk of the Oscars and Academy Awards which tend to follow past winners of the Toronto Film Festival.
But all of those awards are secondary in comparison to Bella’s true mission, which is to recall people to what is most important in life, to remind them of their own humanity and of the beauty of choosing life and learning to love. If a movie like Bella is widely viewed across the nation, it could be a significant factor in turning the tide toward a culture of life.
And that’s where we come in, as Regnum Christi members and apostles.
Our Mission to Support Bella The Regnum Christi team behind Metanoia Films is asking all Movement members to rally in support of what is really a pro-life, pro-values apostolate: they want you to share in Bella’s mission by adopting a theater and inviting everyone you know to the movie’s debut on the big screens during its opening week, which begins this October 26th. And while you’re at it, you may as well invite three other friends to adopt theaters in their own area as well. This would multiply Bella’s impact exponentially in theaters nationwide.
Adopting a theater is easier than it looks. All you have to do is go to the website and click on the ADOPT THEATER button on the home page or call 1-888-474-6025. The web page or the phone operator will help you reserve a standard 300 person theater at an average of $10 per ticket, for a total cost of $3,000.
Sound steep? Don’t worry, you can reduce costs by making a $3,000 donation to a local non-profit organization, such as your parish or section, which can then buy the tickets and help distribute them to individual buyers. The non-profit donation allows for a tax break that cuts the net cost in half. This tax break would then allow for a profit margin on ticket sales in case the section wants to use the Bella movie as a fundraiser for a local crisis pregnancy center or some other good cause.
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words The pro-life battle has long been fought with words, and there comes a time when pictures and stories convince more deeply than rational arguments, especially on such a volatile issue as an unwanted pregnancy. Bella is a picture, a story that convinces on the level of the heart; it touches the spot where most women make their deepest decisions for or against life. The mix of simplicity, humanity, humor, and pathos makes its message even stronger; seeing this movie makes people think again about what it means to be human, and what it means to give joy to another person.
Such potential should not be squandered or left to be just a flash in the pan. The movie needs our help in order to have all the impact it could have on people’s lives, and the upcoming premiere on October 26th offers us the perfect opportunity to do just that. If Regnum Christi members, teams, and sections across North America take up the mission of promoting Bella, we will have done something significant to evangelize our country and change the tide on the culture of death. We can reach all kinds of people from all walks of life, and use this movie as an introduction to the human and Christian values that make life worth living. With intelligent promotion and good follow-up, Bella could be the perfect vehicle to reach our unchurched peers in secular society.
The Bella promotion effort could also be a great way to introduce more people to Regnum Christi; after all, as producer Sean Wolfington himself said, “Bella is the fruit of Regnum Christi” and it shows in action what the Movement is all about: evangelizing by bringing human and Gospel values to modern culture in the most effective way possible; adapting to the needs of time and place in a media-driven culture; working vertex-to-base with real artistic talent but also person-to-person on the grass roots level (get going on those ticket sales!); helping people to accomplish more by working as a team. Bella is the fruit of Regnum Christi because it fulfills our essential mission: to make the truth shine in all its beauty and to bring souls to Christ.
It is true that one swallow does not a summer make; one battle won’t win the war, and it will take a lot more than a movie to change American culture and make everyone rediscover what it means to be open to life and love. But if a movie can change or save even one life—and Bella has already saved hundreds before hitting the big screens”then it’s well worth the effort.
Call it the chance of a lifetime”yours and someone else’s.
To buy tickets and view the new trailer, visit the website
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Eduardo Verastegui will be on Life on the Rock Streaming Video
Just click here to get the link to EWTN's Life on the Rock interview of Bella producer and star, Eduardo Verastegui. His reversion story is very powerful. This man is a Catholic hero, and deserves our full support for his new film company Metanoia. Magazines such as Columbia, and Celebrate Life are featuring interviews with Eduardo this month. The Legionaries of Christ, who are affiliated with Sean Wolfington, the financier of the film, have joined the effort to promote Bella, and are organizing screenings with the blessing of my bishop here on Long Island. Here is an email I'm sending out from the leader of the Legionaries' promotion of Bella, Fr. Roderick Ermatinger:
I am Fr Roderick Ermatinger with the Legionaries of Christ. I believe Leticia has already mentioned to you that Metanoia Films, the producer of the movie Bella, has asked me to help them with their grassroots promotional efforts for this inspiring movie. This is Metanoia’s first film, and hopefully there will be many more to come. Metanoia’s mission is to attract young film makers, producers, directors, writers and actors, and to help them to appreciate the fact that they should use their artistic talents to advance the dignity of the human person, while still making movies that will make money. They want their movies to reach beyond the “choir” to the mainstream. They also want to send a message to Hollywood that people want movies that will elevate them rather than be demeaning. Bella is a simple movie with a deep message – how one person, one event can change a person’s life. Ultimately, it is a celebration of life, both the life of an individual and that of the family. Bella presents an opportunity for high impact on a large scale.
Last summer Bella won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival.
I would like the opportunity to talk with you to discuss how we are promoting Bella on a grassroots level.
Please feel free to contact me by email rermatinger@legionaries.org. Also, please feel free to contact Leticia, leticia77@optonline.net if you are interested in learning more and helping with this important effort.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Fr Roderick Ermatinger,LC
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