Vol. VI. No. 25
*****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
*****
Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/
*****
In this Issue
Special Items This Week -
Book Notice of a
Spiritual Classic:
"Community and Growth"
by Jean Vanier
---
My Published Review:
"Souls in Full Sail"
America Magazine
March 14th, 2011
___
Colleague Contributions
James Wall
Paul Mullen
Jean Koning
Martin Marty
___
Net Notes:
Of Gods and Men
Superstitious Prayers
Irish Church Story Continued
32 Women Citizens of Vatican
Anglican Bishops in Dialogue
Report Finds Poverty Myths Rampant
Pakistani Government Minister Murdered
Protests at Military Funerals Ruled OK
Sex Abuse is the Catholic Church's 9/11
Controversial Remarks-Program Cancelled
_____
Global Faith Potpourri:
Sixeen ENI stories appear this week
_____
Quotes of the Week:
Henri J.M. Nouwen
Peter J. Gomes
Emily Greene Balch
Sister Anne Montgomery
John F. Kennedy
_____
On This Day: (Feb 26th - Feb. 28th)
Feb. 26, 1993 - World Trade Center bomb explosion
Feb. 28, 1993 - Branch Davidian tragedy near Waco
___
Closing Thought - Drew Cody
(end)
*****
Dear Friends:
In this issue I offer a book notice
of a spiritual classic which first
appeared more than 30 years ago.
It is entitled "Community and Growth"
by Jean Vanier and it serves as the
study we are using this Lent with
members of the University of Calgary
community.
I thank Paul, the Christian Reform
chaplain; Adrianna, the chaplaincy PR
coordinator, and a number of chaplain
and student associates for their help.
---
Also, this week, I offer the published
version of a pre-edited review recently
shared with you -
"Souls in Full Sail:
A Christian Spirituality for the Later Years"
by Emilie Griffin. It appears in the March
14th issue of America Magazine, just released.
___
Colleague Contributions
James Wall, Paul Mullen, Jean Koning and
Martin Marty share their writings and other
discoveries with us this week.
___
Net Notes:
"Of Gods and Men" - the story of a group of
Catholic monks, living in Algeria 15 years
ago, who died as martyrs of tribal conflict.
(Globe and Mail review, Ucan News)
"Superstitious Prayers" - even among medical
people, these beliefs and behaviors seem to be
surprisingly common (Christian Century)
"Irish Church Story Continued" - more info
on the sex abuse fallout there, where fears
are growing of becoming a secular country like
others in Europe; as well as commentary from the
US on developments in Ireland (America Magazine)
"32 Women Citizens of Vatican" - recent stats
suggest what most of us assume; here is a place
where men dominate in more ways than one
(Ucan News)
"Anglican Bishops in Dialogue" - countering
the trend to mutual exclusion, a group of
North American and African Anglicans are
seeking and discovering a common spirit.
(Anglican Journal)
"Report Finds Poverty Myths Rampant" - the
Salvation Army in Canada has recently published
a revealing report on public attitudes to
poverty (Vancouver Sun)
"Pakistani Government Minister Murdered" -
one of the major human tragedies this week
took place in Pakistan where a Christian
official was assassinated (ENI, Ucan News,
New York Times)
"Protests at Military Funerals Ruled OK" -
the US Supreme Court ruled in favour of free
speech in that country, even when the speech
reeks of hatred and abuse. The US protects
free speech in ways unknown elsewhere.
(New York Times, The Atlantic)
"Sex Abuse is the Catholic Church's 9/11" -
John A. Allen interviews an Italian author
who writes a book on the extent to which
the sexual abuse crisis has affected the
Catholic Church (National Catholic Reporter)
"Controversial Remarks - Program Cancelled" -
here is Canada, comments disparaging of gays
made on a Christian broadcast were withdrawn;
probably due to fears of adverse fallout
(ChristianWeek.org)
_____
Global Faith Potpourri:
Sixteen ENI stories are available to share
this week.
_____
Quotes of the Week:
Henri J.M. Nouwen, Peter J. Gomes,
Emily Greene Balch, Sr. Anne Montgomery
and John F. Kennedy offer wisdom.
_____
On This Day: (Feb 26th - Feb. 28th)
Read these stories, written as they
unfolded, provided from the archives
of the New York Times.
World Trade Center bomb explosion (1993)
Branch Davidian tragedy near Waco (1993)
___
Closing Thought - this week is provided
by Drew Cody
___
Ash Wednesday and Lent begin this coming
week. Blessings on your seasonal journey.
Wayne
************************
SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS
Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or)admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/
Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/services.htm
___
ST DAVID'S ACTS WEB PAGE
Created and maintained by Colleague
Jock McTavish
http://stdavidscalgary.net/
__
INTRODUCING OUR
ST.DAVID'S WINTER STUDY FOR 2011
Books Considered:
"An Altar in the World"
by Barbara Brown Taylor
(and)
"I Shall Not Hate -
A Gaza Doctor's Journey"
by Izzeldin Abuelaish
More study and website particulars will
be posted as they become available.
Classes are well underway!
Here is the link to the sessions:
http://tinyurl.com/46eyn5j
*****
INTRODUCING MY UNIVERSITY
WINTER COURSE FOR 2011
GOD, ATHEISM, AND MORALITY
We continue our investigation of the
New Atheists and consider the question:
"Can we be good without God?"
Text for the course will be Sam Harris'
new book:
"The Moral Landscape:
How Science Can Determine Human Values"
(Free Press, October, 2010)
Supplementary text:
"Godless Morality" by Richard Holloway
(Canongate (new edition) 2009)
Course description and registration
information:
http://tinyurl.com/2fc7xr4
Classes going well. A great group
representing a gamut of believers
through atheists. I hope to learn
much from them and will post insights
as they emerge.
*****
UNIVERSITY LENTEN STUDY FOR 2011
A Joint Project of the Multi-Faith
Chaplains and St. David's ACTS Ministry
This Year's Subject:
"Community and Growth" by Jean Vanier.
The book first appeared in 1989 and
continues to be widely read.
Learn from Vanier's years of experience
in L'Arche communities around the world.
This book will be of interest to those
who seek insights for living and
working together in a pluralistic
society such as our own.
This study is for university faculty,
staff and interested students. It runs
runs for six weeks, beginning March 3rd.
Time: Thursdays, 12 noon to 1:00PM
March 3rd through April 7th, 2011
Cost: Free. Copies of the book available
for purchase, courtesy of the
Christian Reformed Chaplaincy
and thanks to Paul Verhoef
Location: Small Board Room, Native Centre,
McEwan Student Centre.
Vanier book study link:
http://tinyurl.com/4hkv66x
*****
REMINDER:
ST. DAVID'S 50th ANNIVERSARY
TOUR OF CELTIC LANDS - 2011
We plan a 15-day tour of special Celtic sites
in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England -
April 26th - May 10th, 2011.
A highlight of the tour will be a visit to
St. David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire. Choir
members from our group will sing at various
informal cathedral events through the day
and at Evening Prayers on Saturday, May 7th!
We have 25 choristers signed up as part of
the tour group. This special choir began
rehearsals in late January - led by our
congregation's music director, Brent Tucker.
Details have been finalized with St. David's
Cathedral dean, Fr. Jonathan Lean. We are
being warmly welcomed!
We are also planning to sing while visiting
other locations on our tour. More details
to follow.
36 PLACES HAVE BEEN FULLY REGISTERED AND
PAID, AN IDEAL SIZE FOR THE TOUR
January 26th was the deadline for all
trip payments - 90 days before departure.
We have started an interest list for other,
future tours!
Let me know if you are interested in knowing
more about exciting, spiritual tourism! This
is a cutting edge ministry at St. David's.
We hope to do many more of these tours in
future!
Take a look at this St. David's Sacred Site:
http://tinyurl.com/4gbg35t
*****
STUDY ARCHIVES
A collection of twenty-five+ studies conducted
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://bookstudies.stdavidscalgary.net/
This collection of study resources represents
a decade of Monday Night Studies at St. David's,
plus extra courses too!
You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.
******************************************
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice:
COMMUNITY AND GROWTH
Revised Edition by Jean Vanier
Paulist Press, 2002, 331 pages.
$21.95. ISBN #0-8091-3135-8.
Publisher's Promo:
The profound wisdom in this book is born out
of a lifetime of growth in the context of
Christian community with the poor that Jean
Vanier has been immersed in for more than 50
years. This book is not only interested in
giving structural and personal tips for
creating a healthy and God-centered community;
it actually is like Jean Vanier's manifesto in
terms of his paradigm of why community life is
important and how God teaches special and
beautiful things in the context of communities.
He is such an effective writer. He is able to
exhort the reader to want to pursue community
life, but without being overly idealistic and
ignoring the many complex difficulties that
arise. Jean exhorts the reader to pursue
community life not because it will be easy
and always meet all our needs, but because
it brings tremendous growth and because
God's love and calling are bigger than the
problems that come up in community. This
is the best book I have read on community,
and I will likely read it again.
---
Author's Words:
In some ways, when I began L'Arche in 1964,
I was a bit idealistic. I felt people could
begin community as I had begun, without too
much outside help. I encouraged people to
start, and they did. Quite quickly, serious
problems cropped up... I have seen how much
leaders and communities need support...
These and other aspects I have enlarged
upon in this new edition. I have also
expanded a great deal on the question of
mission in community.
After another ten or more years, I imagine
I will have many other reflections and
corrections to add.
Every day I am discovering new things...
- from the Preface
---
(12 pages paraphrased, below) -
Not long ago, people lived in homogeneous
groups... Times have changed. Today, most
people live in pluralistic societies...
With it, we have seen the disintegration
of many time-honoured communities, like
congregations, family, other groups.
Our values have changed too. The destruction
of community has been at our own hands... As
much as we yearn for community, we yearn even
more for the social and economic prizes
individualism brings.
But individualism comes at a cost. Communities
like congregations and families break up -
but the result is a loneliness among people.
We were not meant to live in isolation from
others; everyone needs friends or companions
to counter the loneliness that sets in.
... response to this loneliness can take many
other forms related to the social and political.
Reaction to extreme individualism can give rise
to totalitarian and fanatical forms of power
"to save people from chaos" and preserve the
identity of groups.
"Community means more than the comfort of souls.
It means, and always has meant, the survival of
the species." (David Clark)
It is important to watch how young people react
to various social developments. The insecurities
they reflect from one generation to the next are
readily observable and while the cycles change,
many common issues and problems resurface.
As the young search for security and clarity
of understanding, they need to be led by wisdom
gained through experience...
We are interdependent as humans and today -
more than ever - we are called to become more
conscious of the fundamental unity of the
human family and to help each group of people
find their identity and place in it.
My understanding of community centres on
principles I have learned from Jesus and
discovering community in the way of Jesus
involves a fundamental risk of trust and
belief.
In this book, I speak of the groupings of
people who have left their own milieu to
live with others under the same roof. My
definition of community is a restricted
one, but many of the points I offer from
my experience apply to other forms of
community life (religious, societal and
political groups, etc.)
With all that in mind, this book tries to
clarify which conditions are necessary to
life in community. It is no thesis or
treatise, but a series of starting-points
for reflection...
Community life needs a certain discipline
and particular forms of nourishment.
Life in community is painful but it is also
a marvelous adventure and source of life.
- from the Introduction
---
My Comments:
Jean Vanier has been a personal mentor since
we first met while I was a graduate student
in Europe (1967) and he was only beginning his
life in L'Arche. At that point, there was one
community, located in the small French village
of Trosly-Breuil, north of Paris. Today, there
are more than 130 in more than two dozen
countries around the world.
Some of these reflect the Catholic nature of
its founder. Many others display the mixed
Christian and inter-faith nature of its
community members.
Over his long an fruitful life, Vanier has been
blessed to live in the kinds of community with
which he is now so familiar, and there is little
that he has not experienced in community - from
the sublime to the ridiculous. He has learned
from it all, and while the book "Community and
Growth" is now some years old, it continues to
provide spiritual insight and inspiration for
many people around the world.
While some of Vanier's work focuses on personal
spirituality, this book sees communal spirituality
as its major theme. Much is made of the integration
of the personal with the group and vice-versa.
The book is divided into about ten chapters
with themes ranging from the nature and covenant
of community; mission, growth and nourishment
in community. Two chapters are devoted to the
gifts people bring - no matter how humble.
Authority is a key first gift (as distinct from
power) as well as such gifts as listening,
discernment and availability.
The book concludes with chapters related to
'the ordinariness' of life and celebration in
community - where eating together is always the
the main event of every day.
This book is a kind of 'bible' for the people
of L'Arche wherever you find them around the
world. It is, in many ways, the major legacy
that Vanier leaves us.
For that reason alone it is worth taking off
the shelf from time to time - to read or to
re-read as a whole, or in part.
I heartily recommend that if you do not have
a copy, you determine to borrow or own one
for yourself!
*****
Buy the Book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/4vfz2ex
L'Arche Canada Publications:
http://tinyurl.com/4gcctwb
*****
My Published Review:
SOULS IN FULL SAIL
A Christian Spirituality
for the Later Years,
by Emilie Griffin
America Magazine
March 14th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4axr3mz
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
JAMES WALL
Chicago, IL
Will Arab Revolution
Penetrate US Echo Chamber?
Wall Writings
Feb. 27th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/46zdbjd
*****
PAUL MULLEN
Calgary, AB
KAIROS "TYRANTS"
Rick Mercer
YouTube Video
http://tinyurl.com/4duvcqw
*****
JEAN KONING
Peterborough, ON
Many thanks for your Colleagues List this week.
Your "QUOTES OF THE WEEK", including one from
Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia, reminded me of an
article I wrote 28 years ago when I met Bishop
Ruiz, and was mightily impressed with what he
had to say at that time. And I have followed
his career over the years through media reports,
to his death last year. I thought you may like
to have a look. I add a postscript at the end
- we don't really change much - over the years
- it seems, sadly.
But I'm always with hope!
Blessings,
Jean.
---
Obituary of Bishop Ruiz Garcia
Catholic News Service
http://tinyurl.com/4gdcv44
---
INTERVIEW WITH BISHOP RUIZ GARCIA
Almost Thirty Years Ago
Here are some selected comments
Jean Koning wrote after an encounter
with Bishop Garcia on a visit to Canada.
"How do we give up power?"
"As a bishop," Ruiz said, " I have to
struggle in my country of Mexico with how
we can be a church for the poor - a church
in poverty."
"How can we give up our power?"
Listening to the poor means looking at
injustices within the structure of the
church. Not everyone is pleased with these
changes - the chance to "manipulate the
people" is lost, he said, and there are
"confrontations" but bishops are called to
be servants. Understanding development must
precede attempts at evangelisation.
Someone in the conversation asked "How can
we in Canada work from within our structures
and organizations to effect change?"
"... within the person of Christ is both
God and my neighbor. To love my neighbor
is to love Jesus Christ."
To love only ourselves is to love partly.
I must be able to love persons who are
different from me; therefore I should ask:
who is my neighbor that I should love?
Canadians need to ask that question, for
if I love only others like me, I am not
obeying the commandment.
In seeking to love the neighbor who is
different from me, I must look at the
structures which prevent that sharing of
love, he concluded.
"When the people of Israel heard the call
to leave Egypt and head from the Promised
Land they wandered 40 years in the
wilderness before they reached their
destination.
"But at least they started out."
"We must at least begin to pack."
---
MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL
Sightings
February 28th, 2011
LIBERAL JUDAISM IN DECLINE
“Liberal Denominations Face Crisis as Rabbis
Rebel, Numbers Shrink: Struggling for Relevance
and Funding” headlined the prime story by Josh
Nathan-Kazis, in the newspaper Forward.
Translation of Nathan- Kazis’s headline, for
non-Jews: synagogue memberships in Conservative
Judaism, a major liberal denomination, “are in
free fall.” Meanwhile, we read, in the other large
liberal group, Reform Judaism, highly-placed rabbis
are working to shake things up, to reform Reform,
which is also in crisis...
http://tinyurl.com/4razb95
---
Dangerous Days for the Jews
The Tablet, UK (editorial)
March 5th, 2011
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/15977
**************************
NET NOTES
"OF GODS AND MEN"
Globe and Mail Movie Review
February 25th, 2011
A Testament to Brotherhood
and Love's Endurance
http://tinyurl.com/4kp6j73
---
Movie Wins French 'Oscar'
Brave Monks in Algeria
Ucan News
Mar. 1st, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4bcedn7
*****
SUPERSTITIOUS PRAYERS
by Rodney Capp
The Christian Century
Feb. 28th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4q2temj
*****
IRISH CHURCH STORY CONTINUED
America Magazine
March 7th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4rq3ao6
---
More On Repentence in Ireland
Commentary by James Martin SJ
America Magazine Video
March, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/69wsmpq
*****
32 WOMEN CITIZENS OF VATICAN
A City made up of Men
Ucan News
Mar. 2nd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4l7atuf
*****
ANGLICAN BISHOPS IN DIALOGUE
North/South Discussions Fruitful
Anglican Journal
March 3rd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4jb3fam
*****
REPORT FINDS POVERTY MYTHS RAMPANT
Salvation Army and Canadian Poverty
Vancouver Sun
Feb. 28th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4en79p2
*****
PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT MINISTER MURDERED
ENI News
March 2nd, 2011
Pakistan's minister for
religious minorities assassinated
Islamabad, Pakistan (ENI news) - Pakistan's
Minister for Religious Minorities and the
only Christian cabinet member, Shahbaz Bhatti,
was assassinated on 2 March outside his home
in Islamabad. He was the second high-ranking
Pakistan government official murdered this
year after expressing opposition to the
country's law that makes criticism of the
Prophet Muhammad a capital crime.
---
Leaders Grieve for Murdered Minister
Uccan News
March 3rd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4mqbl2u
---
Slain Cabinet Minister is Buried
New York Times
March 4th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/48mkozk
*****
PROTESTS AT MILITARY FUNERALS RULED OK
US court rules in favour of church
New York Times
March 2nd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4l9s5wh
---
How This Case Affirms US Constitution
The Atlantic
March 3rd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4j7pehu
*****
SEX ABUSE IS THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH'S 9/11
Interview by John A. Allen
National Catholic Reporter
March 2nd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/46he8w3
*****
CROSSROADS CANCELS PROGRAM
OVER CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS
Statements about gays unacceptable
ChristianWeek.org
March 1st, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/46zoykb
*****
GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI
Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
28 February 2011
A poignant Sunday in quake-ravaged
Christchurch, New Zealand
Christchurch, New Zealand (ENI news) - On the
Sunday after an earthquake ravaged New Zealand's
second-largest city, worshippers gathered
outdoors, in unfamiliar churches and next to
damaged buildings to reflect, pray, mourn and
give thanks.
---
Asian Church Responds to NZ Quakes
Ucan News
March 4th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6a5r5zd
_____
Libyan Christian clergy seek help
for stranded migrants
Nairobi (ENInews)--Libyan Christian clergy have
appealed for urgent help for Eritrean refugees
who have taken shelter in a church in Tripoli,
following days of violent anti-government
protests.
*****
1 March 2011
World Day of Prayer focuses on women of Chile
New York (ENI news)- The potent symbol of bread
will take pride of place this week as an annual
common day of prayer focuses on the struggle of
women in Chile.
_____
Korean church groups commemorate
independence declaration
Tokyo (ENI news) - North and South Korean
Protestant church groups have held their
first simultaneous worship services to
commemorate a declaration of independence
on 1 March, 1919 from Japanese colonial
rule.
_____
Moments of silence observed for
New Zealand quake victims
Wellington, New Zealand (ENI news) -
Thousands across New Zealand observed two
minutes of silence in churches and public
squares on 1 March in memory of the victims
of the 22 February earthquake that devastated
Christchurch, the country's second-largest
city.
*****
2 March 2011
Harvard minister Peter J. Gomes
remembered as "an original"
New York (ENI news) - The Rev. Peter J. Gomes,
best known as an imposing but beloved figure
on the campus of Harvard University, where
for many years he served as the minister of
the university's Memorial Church, is being
remembered as one of the era's great preachers.
Gomes, 68, died 28 February in Boston of
complications from a stroke he suffered
in December.
_____
British banks must address
social responsibility, says report
London (ENI news) - A report calling on British
banks to address a broad range of social,
ethical and environmental concerns following
the financial crisis of the last three years
was published on 1 March by the Ecumenical
Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR)
– a charity which works with Churches Together
in Britain and Ireland.
_____
Israel revokes Anglican bishop's
residency permit
Jerusalem (ENI news) - Israel has declined to
renew a residency permit for the Anglican
Bishop in Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, according
to Yusef Daher, executive secretary of the
Jerusalem Inter-Church Centre (ICC).
*****
3 March 2011
Britain's Chief Rabbi to receive
Ben-Gurion University award
Beersheva, Israel (ENI news) - Ben-Gurion
University of the Negev said it will confer
the Ladislaus Laszt Ecumenical and Social
Concern Award to Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief
Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of
the Commonwealth of Great Britain, in
recognition of his work as a "theologian
and philosopher whose aspirations for truth
and mutual respect of all peoples guide his
actions."
_____
Pakistani churches mourn
assassinated Christian minister
Bangalore, India (ENI news) - Christian schools
and colleges across Pakistan on 3 March began
shutting down for three days to protest the 2
March assassination in Islamabad of Shahbaz
Bhatti, a Roman Catholic who was Minister for
Religious Minorities.
_____
Madagascar church leader appeals for support
following "harassment"
Nairobi (ENI news) - The leader of the largest
Protestant group in Madagascar has appealed
for support over "harassment" of church leaders
after the government accused the group of running
an illegal radio station in one of its orphanages.
_____
Niwano Peace Prize to be awarded
to Thai Buddhist leader
Tokyo (ENI news) - The Tokyo-based Niwano Peace
Foundation has announced it will award its 2011
Peace Prize to Sulak Sivaraksa, a Thai Buddhist
leader.
_____
Pacific Conference of Churches to mark
50-year anniversary
Tokyo (ENI news) - The largest ecumenical church
grouping in the Pacific region is planning to
celebrate its 50-year anniversary from 30 August
to 4 September in Samoa.
*****
4 March 2011
Palestinian advocacy campaign brought
to churches in India
Bangalore, India (ENI news) Two advocates for
the Palestinian cause in the Middle East have
expanded an awareness campaign to churches
worldwide and recently brought the campaign
to India.
_____
Turkish Protestants still face "long path"
to religious freedom
Warsaw (ENI news) - A senior Turkish Protestant
has said his country's small Christian churches
still face severe hardships, despite recent
pledges by the government to improve protection
of religious rights.
_____
Anglican bishop in Jerusalem
seeking renewal of visa
New York (ENI news) The Anglican Bishop in
Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, said he has gone
to court to seek a renewal of the Israeli
residency permits that allows him to live
and work in the ancient city. The Israeli
government recently declined to renew the
permit and ordered Dawani and his family
to leave the country.
*****
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners.online
February 28th, 2011
"Praying is no easy matter. It demands
a relationship in which you allow
someone other than yourself to enter
into the very center of your person,
to see there what you would rather
leave in darkness, and to touch there
what you would rather leave untouched."
- Henri J.M. Nouwen
---
March 1st, 2011
"The question should not be 'What would
Jesus do?' but rather, more dangerously,
'What would Jesus have me do?' The onus
is not on Jesus but on us, for Jesus did
not come to ask semidivine human beings
to do impossible things. He came to ask
human beings to live up to their full
humanity; he wants us to live in the
full implication of our human gifts,
and that is far more demanding."
- Rev. Peter J. Gomes, professor
and minister at Harvard University
who passed away Monday.
---
March 2nd, 2011
"We are not asked to subscribe to any utopia
or to believe in a perfect world just around
the corner. We are asked to be patient with
necessarily slow and groping advance on the
road forward, and to be ready for each step
ahead as it become practicable. We are asked
to equip ourselves with courage, hope,
readiness for hard work, and to cherish
large and generous ideals."
- Emily Greene Balch
---
March 3rd, 2011
"Civil disobedience is, traditionally,
the breaking of a civil law to obey a
higher law, sometimes with the hope of
changing the unjust civil law... But we
should speak of such actions as divine
obedience, rather than civil disobedience.
The term 'disobedience' is not appropriate
because any law that does not protect and
enhance human life is no real law."
- Sister Anne Montgomery, R.S.C.J.
---
March 4th, 2011
"A child miseducated is a child lost."
- John F. Kennedy
*****
ON THIS DAY
Feb. 26, 1993 - bomb explodes at
World Trade Center
http://tinyurl.com/478o66d
_____
Feb. 28, 1993 - a gun battle erupted near
Waco, TX, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms agents tried to serve warrants
on the Branch Davidians; four agents and six
Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff
began.
http://tinyurl.com/4qm5fzq
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT
"Beware of the self-made man as
he tends to worship his creator"
(end)
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