This is a detailed, understandable and very informative video made by a bariatric surgeon for his patients. It explain COVID-19 in terms that even I can understand. It has a bit of mild profanity and crude jokes that I wish it didn’t have and would not normally post. But this is an extraordinary moment in history and I’m breaking a few of my own rules because lives are at stake and that always takes first place in my list of... Read more
Pope Francis’ prayer intention for April is that those suffering from addiction may be properly helped and accompanied. From Vatican News: The full text of his intention is below: Surely, you’ve heard about the drama of addiction. And… have you also thought about the addiction to gambling, to pornography, to the internet… and the dangers of virtual space?. Supported by the “Gospel of Mercy” we can alleviate, care for and heal the suffering associated with new kinds of addiction. We... Read more
Australia’s high court overturned Cardinal Pell’s conviction on five counts of child sex abuse today. The High Court ruled that the jury should have “entertained a doubt with respect to each of the offenses” and ordered that the convictions be quashed that that acquittals be entered in their place. From CNN: Brisbane, Australia (CNN)Cardinal George Pell will be immediately freed from prison after Australia’s High Court unanimously overturned his conviction on five counts of historical child sex abuse. The momentous... Read more
A reader asked me to look further at hydroxychloroquine, the drug that President Trump is promoting as a cure or treatment (I’m not sure which) for COVID-19. I’m very reluctant to get into this because I’m totally unqualified to do so. I don’t know anything about prescription drugs and their actions and interactions. I don’t even understand the many drugs I have to take myself. My primary reaction to this controversy has been disgust that politicians, talk show hosts and... Read more
I don’t have any spiritual insights to share with you about Palm Sunday and Holy Week, except to say that whether or not it is a holy Holy Week for you is entirely up to you and your personal willingness to trust God. The mass is freely available from every parish on the internet. The Holy Spirit is everywhere. God will bless you this week if you are open to being blessed. My pastor and the other priests and deacons... Read more
What we have here is a comedian interviewing a tech billionaire and they are making more sense about the pandemic that is beating us up than all the politicos and professional commentators combined. Go figure. This is an edifying and thoughtful discussion about our situation today. It is honest, thoughtful and civil. Read more
Nobody paid attention five years ago when Bill Gates made this speech. In fact, President Trump actually took steps backward by doing away with the Pandemic Response Team that President Obama had put together. However, Mr Gates was prescient. We’re going to get through this pandemic. And then we have to face a considerable economic mop-up. We’ll get through that too, although — if Trump is president — I expect the debate to be acrimonious and crazy-making. But it would... Read more
Heavenly Father, we pray that You will forgive us our sins. We confess that we see ourselves as righteous, even thought we are weak and sinful. We confess that we have committed acts of petty malice against our co-workers, friends, family and strangers on the internet. We confess that we have used media to sin against our fellow human beings by passing along slander and lies about them. We confess that we have lied, many times about many things, both... Read more
The Verge’ rap sermons are the best. Read more
Send money. You local parish is probably sucking air, trying to pay the bills. Send your regular donation, the one that you haven’t been making because you haven’t been going to church because mass has been cancelled. Our bishops cancelled mass to help keep us alive. Let’s not starve the Church for cash while we’re beating down the virus curve. Write the check. Put it in an envelope. Mail it in. They baptize us, anoint us when we’re sick,... Read more
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