Not just for kids!

Although the Holy Father has spoken very positively of the potential of the internet for evangelization and even building community, and his remarks were especially addressed to young people, here's someone to inspire even us geezers.  Here's her blogspot.

More on Dolores' 100th BD party

Article in LA Times.

"Mass and martinis ..."  hmmm.

Article in LA Daily News (misspelling her name!)

"We never imagined either one of our parents would live to be 100.  But they both did.  It's wonderful." -- Linda Hope

"She's a leading advocate for adoption and a champion of Catholic causes benefiting the poor."

AP News report.

Miguel Diaz named Ambassador to the Vatican

I just read online that President Obama has appointed a pro-life Democrat university professor, Miguel Diaz, as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.  Very interesting appointment, especially in light of the President's well-received (in Vatican circles, though not in conservative USA circles!) Notre Dame speech.

Here's the article in the NCR and the news release from the College of St. Benedict / St. John's University, where Diaz teaches.

Dolores Hope turns 100 today!

Dolores Hope is celebrating her 100th birthday today.  Bob, who died in 2003, also saw 100.  Not too many married couple have that distinction.

During my years in residence at St. Charles Church in North Hollywood (1988-94), I frequently celebrated daily Mass with Dolores in the assembly, but I never really got to know them.

The Palm Springs Desert Sun has seveal nice articles commemorating this day:

"Dolores Hope springs eternal" (May 24, 2009)

"Dolores Hope: a legend in her own right" (May 25, 2009)

Happy birthday, Dolores.  Thanks to you too for the memories!

Pope Benedict on Digital Technology

USE IT, and use it for the good, not just empty chatter.

In his Message for the 43rd World Day Communications Day, this coming Sunday, May 24, he said things like:

• promote human understanding and solidarity
• promote a culture of respect, dialogue, and friendship
• bring the witness of your faith to the digital world

He concludes with a special message to the youth of today:

I would like to conclude this message by addressing myself, in particular, to young Catholic believers: to encourage them to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communications and information technology the values on which you have built your lives. In the early life of the Church, the great Apostles and their disciples brought the Good News of Jesus to the Greek and Roman world. Just as, at that time, a fruitful evangelization required that careful attention be given to understanding the culture and customs of those pagan peoples so that the truth of the gospel would touch their hearts and minds, so also today, the proclamation of Christ in the world of new technologies requires a profound knowledge of this world if the technologies are to serve our mission adequately. It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this "digital continent". Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the "Good News" of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people. Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! 

Read more.

Pope on Young People and Internet

At today's regular Wednesday audience, Pope Benedict urged young people to make use of the potentiall of the internet to build a better world, according to a just-released AP report.  Too bad, he didn't include "old folks" like me.  But, at age 82, Pope Benedict's own use of technology is really an outstanding model.

YouTube has just posted video of the brief summary in English that the Pope usually gives at the end of his weekly audience.  

An English translation of the full text, which is always in Italian, is usually available in a few days.  I'll post a link when I find it.

UPDATE: Apparently there was no more about tis in the audience, but he was echoing his just-released Message for the 43rd World Communications Day, Sunday, May 24.  See the next post.

More Kmiec on Obama

On Monday I posted a link to Doug Kmiec first article commenting on President Obama's Notre Dame Commencement address, entitled "Obama at Notre Dame: Incomplete Eloquence."

Professor Kmiec has just published a very thoughtful follow-up article: "Why was Obama Notre Dame visit 'Eloquence Incomplete'?"  I highly recommend reading both articles, but especially the second. 

Vatican Opinion Piece on Obama in English

I finally found an (unofficial) English translation of the commentary on President Obama's first 100 days, which L'Osservatore Romano published back on April 29.  Click here.

The same blogsite, which I ran across by accident, also has a passionate and thought-provoking piece by the President of Trinity Washington University, "Catholic Higher Education under Siege?"  There is also a wonderful piece about Father Ted Hesburgh, "The Voice of Reason."

I havew not yet found an English translation of the full text of the L'Osservatore Romano's article on President Obamna's Notre Dame Commencement address.

The Vatican, Obama and Notre Dame

Severe critics of President Obama and Notre Dame may (or may not) be interested in what the Vatican's officical newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, has to say about the President's Commencement address.  

I don't know if there will be an English translation, but here's the report from Catholic News Service.

Two weeks ago, L'Osservatore Romano also printed a fairly positive evaluation of the President's first 100 days.  Again, I'm not aware of a full English translation of the article (you can read it in Italian here), but Catholic News Service again carried a summary.  (You can, however, struggle though Google's automatic translation here.)

Kmiec and Noonan

After Presidet Obama's talk yesterday, I was very interested to find out what Doug Kmiec would say.  I didn't have to wait long.  Here it is.

I was also interested in what Judge John Noonan said in his talk at the Notre Dame Commencement.  You may recall that Mary Ann Glendon was originally scheduled to receive the University's Laetare Medal, but declined almost at the last minute (here's her statement).  Noonan, who was awared the medal in 1984, was recruited by the University to give the talk in her place.  I think he speaks well for himself, for the University, and for the Church as well.

On the Notre Dame website, you can view and listen to (as well as read) the addresses given by both Judge Noonan and President Obama.

President Obama's Speech

After all the shrill shouting and hateful demonization that has led up to this event, the President's speech at Notre Dame today was remarkable.  Simply remarkable.  He speaks well for himself, and Catholics would do well to engage seriously and persistently in genuine dialogue, rather than diatribes, surrounding the wide range of human life and human living issues.

I enourage you to read the whole text of the speech yourself, and not be content with media snippets or one-sided opinions.

Or, if you don't want to read it, it's already on YouTube.  Check Deacon Greg Kandra's "Deacon's Bench" blogsite for the video.  (He's pretty on top of things.)

Fun and Frolic at Mayo Clinic

I dare you to watch this and not smile!

A Real Choice for Life

Hidden in today's LA Times Health Section is a brief article describing a young couple making a difficult and sacrificial yet, quite obviously, infinitely rewarding choice in favor of life.  It's worth reading and pondering, in addition to celebrating and passing on.  In the paper the headline was: The choice: Her life or her unborn child's. (Much better than the insipid headline of the online version.)

This unnamed woman recalls the story of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, a very modern woman who also lived to the full her vocation as wife, mother, physician ... and who also chose rightly.