Four friends, who hadn't seen each other in thirty years, reunited at a party. After several drinks, one of the men had to use the rest room. Those who remained talked about their kids.
The first guy said, "My son is my pride and joy. He started working at a successful company at the bottom of the barrel. He studied Economics and Business Administration and soon began to climb the corporate ladder, and now he's the president of the company. He became so rich that he gave his best friend a top-of-the-line Mercedes for his birthday."
The second guy said, "Darn, that's great! My son is also my pride and joy. He started working for a big airline, then went to flight school to become a pilot. Eventually he became a partner in the company, where he owns the majority of its assets. He's so rich that he gave his best friend a brand-new jet for his birthday."
The third man said, "Well, that's terrific! My son studied in the best universities and became an engineer. Then he started his own construction company and is now a multimillionaire. He also gave away something very nice and expensive to his best friend for his birthday: A 30,000-square-foot mansion."
The three friends congratulated each other, just as the fourth returned from the restroom and asked, "What are all the congratulations for?" One of the three said, "We were talking about the pride we feel for the successes of our sons. What about your son?"
The fourth man replied, "My son is gay and makes a living dancing as a stripper at a nightclub."
The three friends said, "What a shame!" "What a disappointment!"
The fourth man replied, "No; I'm not ashamed. He's my son and I love him.
"And he hasn't done too bad either. His birthday was two weeks ago, and he received a beautiful 30,000-square-foot mansion, a brand-new jet, and a top-of-the-line Mercedes from his three boyfriends!"
From Paul (A.), who says it's an oldie but goodie, however I haven't heard it before - and I laughed.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Feast of St. Elizabeth Of Hungary
St. Elizabeth of Hungary - 1317 - Fresco - Cappella di San Martino, Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi
The numerous "St. Elizabeth's Hospitals" throughout the world are for the most part named, not for the Biblical Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, but for this princess of Hungary. She was concerned for the relief of the poor and the sick, and with her husband's consent she used her dowry money for their relief. During a famine and epidemic in 1226, while her husband was away in Italy, she sold her jewels and established a hospital where she nursed the sick, and opened the royal granaries to feed the hungry. After her husband's death in 1227, her inlaws, who opposed her "extravagances," expelled her from Wartburg. Finally an arrangement was negotiated with them that gave her a stipend. She became a Franciscan tertiary (lay associate) and devoted the remainder of her life to nursing and charity. She sewed garments to clothe the poor, and went fishing to feed them.
by James Kiefer.
Readings:
Psalm 109:20-25
Tobit 12:6b-9
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Luke 6:35-38
PRAYER
Almighty God, by your grace your servant Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Elizabeth is an all-around lovely saint, a woman who exemplified Jesus' teachings about helping the poor by the manner in which she lived her life.
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’ (Luke 6:35-38)
Please Pray For Izzie
From MotherAmelia:
Please pray for Izzie. I'm taking her to a specialist today. Her back leg seems to be going. More details on my blog at My Mother Is a Father.
From MotherAmelia comes very sad news about Izzie:
UPDATE: 2 pm (Thursday, 19 November) I just returned from the vet and the news is not good. Even though the disk is quite repairable and Izzie would likely come through that just fine, they discovered a tumor behind her tongue. The vet said it looked like squamous cell carcinoma, although a biopsy is needed to be sure. The vet said she would hate to do surgery on a dog that might live just 6 months or so and I agree. I will pick her up in the morning and she will get medication for pain for her spine and other meds and I will just wait and watch. I'm devastated and need to rest a bit.
Please pray for Izzie. I'm taking her to a specialist today. Her back leg seems to be going. More details on my blog at My Mother Is a Father.
From MotherAmelia comes very sad news about Izzie:
UPDATE: 2 pm (Thursday, 19 November) I just returned from the vet and the news is not good. Even though the disk is quite repairable and Izzie would likely come through that just fine, they discovered a tumor behind her tongue. The vet said it looked like squamous cell carcinoma, although a biopsy is needed to be sure. The vet said she would hate to do surgery on a dog that might live just 6 months or so and I agree. I will pick her up in the morning and she will get medication for pain for her spine and other meds and I will just wait and watch. I'm devastated and need to rest a bit.
A Reminder - Fr James Jensen's Funeral Is Tonight
From Kathy Jensen:
My husband, the Very Rev. James M. Jensen, rector of Grace Church Utica, NY died unexpectedly late this afternoon. We were at an ordination and he had chest pains and we went to the hospital and he did not make it. His aorta ruptured and it was all over. Nothing more I can say now. We are in shock.
....
Requiem eucharist will be Thursday at 7 p.m. - preceded by in church visitation from 3 - 6 p.m. Grace Church, Utica, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Grace Church Music Fund or the Society of St. Margaret – Haiti.
Those of us who cannot be physically present at Grace Church tonight will be present in spirit with Kathy, the family, and all who love Jim.
Jim left a beautiful and astonishing gift behind - his sermon which was to have been preached on Sunday, November 15, 2009. I urge you to read the sermon, which is posted at Kathy's blog, Lady of Silences.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end" (Rev. 21:6).
My husband, the Very Rev. James M. Jensen, rector of Grace Church Utica, NY died unexpectedly late this afternoon. We were at an ordination and he had chest pains and we went to the hospital and he did not make it. His aorta ruptured and it was all over. Nothing more I can say now. We are in shock.
....
Requiem eucharist will be Thursday at 7 p.m. - preceded by in church visitation from 3 - 6 p.m. Grace Church, Utica, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Grace Church Music Fund or the Society of St. Margaret – Haiti.
Those of us who cannot be physically present at Grace Church tonight will be present in spirit with Kathy, the family, and all who love Jim.
Jim left a beautiful and astonishing gift behind - his sermon which was to have been preached on Sunday, November 15, 2009. I urge you to read the sermon, which is posted at Kathy's blog, Lady of Silences.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end" (Rev. 21:6).
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I Heart My Louisiana Pols
From TPMMuckraker:
Gov. Bobby Jindal will give $10,000 in contributions that he received from accused fraud attorney Scott Rothstein (and from his law firm) to a victims' compensation fund once one is created, says Kyle Plotkin, the governor's press secretary.
The move comes just four hours after TPMmuckraker first reported the news of the donations from Rothstein. The money was given at a pre-game reception held in Jindal's honor before the UF-LSU game in Florida in October 2008. Rothstein was one of nine co-chairs for the event.
Read the rest of the story about our governor who so frequently travels the country to raise funds for his re-election (heh heh) campaign. And it seems that Rothstein held another fundraiser for the guv last year. Rothstein lives in Florida. Why this burning desire to re-elect Jindal as governor of Louisiana?
And then there's something about Mary (Landrieu, that is).
Also from TPMMuckraker:
The campaign of Sen. Mary Landrieu violated campaign-finance rules by making an unexplained donation of over $25,000 to the US Treasury, a good-government group is alleging. The campaign calls the payment routine, but one expert says that's "bullshit."
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington plans to file a complaint with the FEC, charging that the $25,300 donation, made in August 2008, ran afoul of the agency's regulations governing the handling of contributions of questionable legality, the group's executive director, Melanie Sloan, told TPMmuckraker.
Now I don't fully understand this story, but even a know-nothing like me thinks it's strange for a senator to make a large donation to the US Treasury Department. There IS something about Mary.
We Knew This But...
...A preliminary report commissioned by the nation's Roman Catholic bishops to investigate the clergy sex abuse scandal has found no evidence that gay priests are more likely than heterosexual clergy to molest children, the lead authors of the study said Tuesday.
The full report by researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice won't be completed until the end of next year. But the authors said their evidence to date found no data indicating that homosexuality was a predictor of abuse.
"What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse," said Margaret Smith of John Jay College, in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "At this point, we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now." (My emphasis)
From USA Today.
As Jim Naughton says at The Lead, "Let the search for alternative scapegoats begin."
The article includes other interesting tidbits from the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is presently meeting in Baltimore.
The full report by researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice won't be completed until the end of next year. But the authors said their evidence to date found no data indicating that homosexuality was a predictor of abuse.
"What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse," said Margaret Smith of John Jay College, in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "At this point, we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now." (My emphasis)
From USA Today.
As Jim Naughton says at The Lead, "Let the search for alternative scapegoats begin."
The article includes other interesting tidbits from the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is presently meeting in Baltimore.
Story Of The Day - Ulterior Motive
What would it take to fly? he said & I
said I wasn't sure, but I knew he'd have
to move faster than he did now & he
thought about that for a minute & then
he looked at me & said you're trying to
teach me something, aren't you?
This one fits for Grandpère and me with only a bit of editing of the pronouns. Only he may not quite so subtle. Otherwise it's perfect.
From StoryPeople
said I wasn't sure, but I knew he'd have
to move faster than he did now & he
thought about that for a minute & then
he looked at me & said you're trying to
teach me something, aren't you?
This one fits for Grandpère and me with only a bit of editing of the pronouns. Only he may not quite so subtle. Otherwise it's perfect.
From StoryPeople
Sign The Petition Against the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill
From Ekklesia:
The petition
We call on Christians around the world, and particularly Christian leaders, to oppose the extreme and violent “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” proposed in Uganda. We call on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to end his silence on the matter, to condemn the bill in public and to urge Ugandan Christians to oppose it.
In addition to life imprisonment for consensual sexual activity between people of the same sex, the bill would introduce the death penalty for anyone whose same-sex partner is disabled. It would introduce imprisonment for anyone in authority – such as a priest or minister - who knew of homosexual activity but failed to report it.
Most Christians, who hold a range of views on sexual ethics, will be horrified by these measures. By speaking out, Christian leaders can expose the hollowness of the religious rhetoric used by the bill’s supporters. Given the place of Anglicanism in Uganda, it is important that Rowan Williams adds his voice to the opposition to the bill.
Sign the petition.
The petition
We call on Christians around the world, and particularly Christian leaders, to oppose the extreme and violent “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” proposed in Uganda. We call on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to end his silence on the matter, to condemn the bill in public and to urge Ugandan Christians to oppose it.
In addition to life imprisonment for consensual sexual activity between people of the same sex, the bill would introduce the death penalty for anyone whose same-sex partner is disabled. It would introduce imprisonment for anyone in authority – such as a priest or minister - who knew of homosexual activity but failed to report it.
Most Christians, who hold a range of views on sexual ethics, will be horrified by these measures. By speaking out, Christian leaders can expose the hollowness of the religious rhetoric used by the bill’s supporters. Given the place of Anglicanism in Uganda, it is important that Rowan Williams adds his voice to the opposition to the bill.
Sign the petition.
A Pastoral Question
From Fr James Martin, SJ at his America Magazine blog:
And later I read in another post at Fr Martin's blog:
It seems to me that Fr Martin answers his own questions about pastoral care and ministry to LGTB folks (not in so many words, but by implication simply by his manner of asking the questions) in the Roman Catholic Church and perhaps puts himself in the position of being a critic of the official policy of his church. If Fr Martin and others at the magazine continue to write in this fashion, will America Magazine pass muster with the committees set up to define "legitimate Catholic entities".
Fr Martin adds, "But several bishops and church officials I spoke with doubted whether George's desire to implement the certifying committees would gain any traction among the bishops."
I don't know whether Cardinal Goerge's suggestions for setting up the investigating committees will be implemented. I've admired America over a period of time for its often well-written, thought-provoking, and sometimes edgy writing, and I wonder about its fate if the committees come into being. How will the church distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate "Catholic entities"? Will there be a list like the old Roman Catholic Index of Forbidden Books (which, by the way, moved quite a few books to best-sellerdom once their titles were placed on the list) to guard the faithful Roman Catholics from confusion?
As some wise person, whose name I've forgotten said of the Anglican Communion in the midst of its internal controversies, what the Archbishop of Canterbury and the churches in the Communion need to be doing now is loosening the reins, rather than attempting to tighten them. It seems to me that the very same suggestion would work quite well at the present time for the Roman Catholic Church.
Thanks to my friend Fran for calling my attention to Fr Martin's blog post on ministry to LGTB persons. Fr Martin is associate editor of America Magazine.
Here's a real pastoral question to consider: What place is there for the gay person in the Catholic church?
....
Imagine you are a devout Catholic who is also gay. Here is a list of the things that you are not to do, according to the teaching of the church.
1.) Enjoy romantic love.
2.) Marry.
3.) Adopt a child.
4.) Enter a seminary.
5.) Work for the church and be open.
At the same time, if you are a devout Catholic who is attentive both to church teachings and the public pronouncements of church leaders, you will be reminded that you are "objectively disordered," and your sexuality is "a deviation, an irregularity a wound."
....
What kind of life remains for these brothers and sisters in Christ, those who wish to follow the teachings of the church? Officially at least, the gay Catholic seems set up to lead a lonely, loveless, secretive life. Is this what God desires for the gay person? (My emphasis)
And later I read in another post at Fr Martin's blog:
The leader of the Catholic hierarchy in the United States on Monday launched a new effort to rein in Catholic debates and dissidents and to remind the flock that the bishops will be the arbiters of what it means to be a Catholic.
In remarks at the opening of the hierarchy's annual meeting in Baltimore, Chicago Cardinal Francis George made it clear that after years of repeated questions about the bishops' credibility, it was time for the bishops to clarify just who can and cannot speak for the church. He also confirmed that he had set up three committees of bishops to develop guidelines for determining what will be considered legitimate Catholic entities. (My emphasis)
...
Church insiders said the divisions and open dissents, and the criticisms that often bombarded the bishops from right and left, increasingly frustrated George and others in the church leadership, and led George to quietly form several committees that will try to find a way to certify which universities, media, and other organizations can claim to be Catholic.
It seems to me that Fr Martin answers his own questions about pastoral care and ministry to LGTB folks (not in so many words, but by implication simply by his manner of asking the questions) in the Roman Catholic Church and perhaps puts himself in the position of being a critic of the official policy of his church. If Fr Martin and others at the magazine continue to write in this fashion, will America Magazine pass muster with the committees set up to define "legitimate Catholic entities".
Fr Martin adds, "But several bishops and church officials I spoke with doubted whether George's desire to implement the certifying committees would gain any traction among the bishops."
I don't know whether Cardinal Goerge's suggestions for setting up the investigating committees will be implemented. I've admired America over a period of time for its often well-written, thought-provoking, and sometimes edgy writing, and I wonder about its fate if the committees come into being. How will the church distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate "Catholic entities"? Will there be a list like the old Roman Catholic Index of Forbidden Books (which, by the way, moved quite a few books to best-sellerdom once their titles were placed on the list) to guard the faithful Roman Catholics from confusion?
As some wise person, whose name I've forgotten said of the Anglican Communion in the midst of its internal controversies, what the Archbishop of Canterbury and the churches in the Communion need to be doing now is loosening the reins, rather than attempting to tighten them. It seems to me that the very same suggestion would work quite well at the present time for the Roman Catholic Church.
Thanks to my friend Fran for calling my attention to Fr Martin's blog post on ministry to LGTB persons. Fr Martin is associate editor of America Magazine.
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