Teetatea V

MOTHERHOOD and the Call to Holiness

2012-01-16T13:03:00.000+07:00

I came across this reading today. I personally have high respect to full-time moms. Getting a day busy for the family's needs and even without getting any compensation from it is admirable. Much as this is a selfless vocation and so doing responsibilities and obligation both for husband and kids. This modern society tends to forget that moms not just grow children but RAISE them. And this can't be done without devotion and time. Here is the article below I got from National Catholic Register. Trust me, it's worth the read.

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How staying at home helped moms understand their vocation. Jan. 15 issue feature.

Recently, the Women at NBCU (a marketing firm for NBC Universal) study found that 66% of moms said they would rather be a stay-at-home parent than a working parent. Additionally, the majority of employed moms (53%) feel that, while financially they need to work, they would prefer to be stay-at-home moms.

Long before she was married or even pregnant, Vicky Stone intended to be a stay-at-home mom. It didn’t work out that way. When she and her husband had their first child, her career was taking off. They had just purchased a house and couldn’t give up the income or benefits. “I think it came down to me being too young and selfish at that time,” she admits. “I couldn’t see the big picture.”

By the time she was pregnant with her fourth child, she had risen to the position of assistant county administrator for Camden County, N.J. She enjoyed the work but felt the overwhelming need to be at home with her children. “Working was coming at the cost of spending time with my family. I needed to re-evaluate my priorities.”

So she left the workforce and never looked back. Now, with seven children, ranging in age from 5 to 16, she knows she made the right choice. She discerned motherhood as her vocation and learned the unique way it sanctifies everyday life.

“God calls each and every one of us to holiness, but being a mother is a special blessing. Being a mother one is able to be his instrument in creation, his hands, as we help our children in all they do,” she says. “We demonstrate his love in our unconditional love for our children — and all of this carries through to not only our own children, but to all.”

Other Catholic women have faced similar challenges and discernment.

When Michelle Reitemeyer was working as a civil engineer, she believed she could balance both a large family and a demanding career. Married at 24, she had her first child at 27. She wanted to stay home, but, like many families, they simply couldn’t afford to lose the extra paycheck: “The reality was that we owed a ton of money from our private college education, and we hadn’t been overly prudent in how we spent our spare cash in our early marriage. I managed to keep my paycheck, but finagled fewer hours in the office and two days working from home.”

This approach didn’t work out too well, and a month before the birth of her second son, she made the decision to stop working and turn to motherhood full time. “Often, a woman works just to pay for childcare, and it makes no sense,” she explains. “Not in my case. Had I poured myself into my career, I could have made a lot of money. I was on an upward path, especially once my company added a commission to my base pay a few months before I quit. But, enticing as that was, I am an old-fashioned girl. I had dreams of waving goodbye to the kids as they left for school, spending my day cleaning the house and baking cookies, greeting them with smiles when they got home, and just having this perfect Leave It to Beaver life. I didn’t want other people to change my babies’ diapers, feed my babies bottles, or help my children with their homework.”

Mother of six Margaret Berns, on the other hand, always knew she would stay home to raise her family. “In fact,” she says, “I told my husband so on our first date. (The fact that he stuck around for a second date was very encouraging.) This is it for me: Raising my children is the most important thing I will do.” She left her job as a teacher in a small Catholic high school upon the birth of her first child.

Heather Price was also working as a teacher when she decided to leave her job to stay at home. Teaching is “probably one of the most family-friendly careers there is,” she says. “I loved it until I was a mother — then the joy paled to nonexistence. I decided to focus on my family when it hurt so much to drop my oldest off at her aunt’s so I could go to work. It seemed hypocritical to be teaching other people’s children and leave someone else to take care of my own. Then No. 2 was born when No. 1 was only a year and a half old, and the work to get out the door was just overwhelming. Between prepared-food costs, gas costs and day-care costs, I wasn’t making any money.”

Now Price is pregnant with her sixth child, and she and her husband are committed to “the spirit of sacrifice. I would love to make annual trips to France or even take graduate-level classes in art history or French; even a solitary trip to the grocery store, however, is a luxury. Sometimes I feel like I live in a cloister, with my only influence being through prayer, but I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that comparison. Those courageous women have made far greater sacrifices than I.”

For Berns, the call to holiness comes from “the love that I show my children and husband. Theoretically, this love will increase exponentially when my children leave the house — the ripples will expand; the faith will be shared. That is my great hope: that my children will all be emissaries of the King and will be inspired, not hindered, by what they’ve learned in our home.”

Some new mothers, however, find the image of the vocation doesn’t always match the reality. How can children be the means for a mother’s sanctification if they only make her irritable, tense and exhausted? Reitemeyer learned gradually that things do get better with age and experience.

“There were many evenings I wept while nursing a little one to sleep,” she admits, “and prayed to Mother Mary for the grace to be gentle and patient and kind. I still have a long way to go, but, certainly, I find it much easier now to speak softly or slow down to a child’s pace or laugh before scolding. Motherhood, well done, has no room for selfishness, impatience, sloth or cowardice. Every day brings new challenges that require exercising one or more virtues, and to boldly face another day is to get a bit stronger, better, holier. Certainly, there is the possibility of failure, of becoming apathetic, of remaining selfish and self-centered. And, surely, as the mother goes, so too will go the family, and thus the world.

“Holy women will tend to raise holy families, and since the family is the fundamental unit of society, the more holy families there are, the better our society will be.”

For Stone, the call to holiness in her vocation reflects the call of God to mankind. “When we become filled with his love,” she says, “we see others as his children. And just as we want to help our children attain their full potential, you can see how God wants all of his children to attain heaven. We feel the call to help others, as we should, on our path to walk alongside us as we strive to be more pleasing to him.”

Thomas L. McDonald is a catechist in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey.

Link:
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/motherhood-and-the-call-to-holiness1

It is

2011-12-23T23:37:00.001+07:00

Just hours before the day turn the 24th I just found something. It didn't feel good, "I'm not ok". . There was a sudden strange feeling like loads of ice were poured on me,and I'm trembling up to this very moment. I can not cry.

The truth makes me understand a lot of things that made me confused over the years, the cause of my tears even to sleep and everything that made this beautiful life "not fine".

I do not know how to react, it is just that it doesn't feel any good and I think my world stops at this very moment. But I think I just have been blessed, I may not understand well what's happening but I know God has better plans. I'm looking forward to better days this year has been full of catastrophe, never my ideal yet I choose to hang on and believe that we can always save the best for last as the best is yet to come.

Simbang Gabi '11 --4thday

2011-12-19T22:01:00.008+07:00

I was pretty excited this day as this is my official first attendance at Mary Help of Christians Parish in Krungthep Krittha. I got there by 6:40 and was surprised they were having a rosary. That was already the fourth Joyful Mystery when I came. I was so happy as it's my first time to have the kind in the Church and after, we had the Simbang gabi mass right away.

Just wow, Father John Tamayo gave the Homily in 20minutes if I got the time right. I love listening to his share and as a Filipino, we can really relate how he speaks from the heart. He shared about the day's gospel on the first reading and the holy gospel. Both speak of Conception. The first reading is on the conception of Samson by a barren woman who Samson became a King later and of John the Baptist by the elderly, barren Elizabeth. Their stories are alike as they were conceived with purpose and God's will aside from the Miracle in it. The stories are 800 years apart as shared by Fr. Tamayo. Both conceptions are important steps in the FULFILLMENT of GOD's PLAN.

He also shared how Zechariah hesitated the news when the angel appeared to him announcing his wife was giving birth. As learnt, they were mature with age and Zechariah was estimated as over sixty that time. We can imagine his concern for his wife, Elizabeth in her age of bearing a son, it could be challenging and not easy to deal with. But then the lesson is PUTTING OUR TRUST in GOD even though at times we don't understand where are we going and we have less knowledge of what is happening as HE always has a better plan.

The Euchalette distributed in the church has these words:

"Putting Our Trust in God.

On this fourth day of our Novena we are reminded that, occasionally, God challenges people to trust things. The episode of the disbelief of Zechariah warns us that those who doubt God's words will be left to wittiness, ashamed and speechless, the fulfillment of the divine plan. On the other hand, those who accept God's plan in full trust and are ready to cooperate become His partners and instruments of His love and power.

Today's liturgy challenges us to choose between being spectators of God's wonders or His enthusiastic collaborators along the highway of salvation history.

In today's liturgy we are also invited to reflect on and pray for the elderly and the childless "titas" in our families. Their happiness depends on how we treat them."

Simbang Gabi '11 --3rd day

2011-12-18T23:43:00.001+07:00

I made up my mind I'll be in Mary Help of Christians Parish for tonight's mass, it's the Fourth Sunday of Advent. I have read that the masses will be alternately Thai and English and this day is set to ENG. My work finished at six I planned to get a cab right straight from Nawamin to get there on time.

I got to the church by half past six. People were outside and father, too was talking with some people near the long table. I was pretty sure they were having dinner. I hurriedly went inside and smelled candles. I know for sure there's a Misang Tagalog every Sunday at five in the afternoon, I was thinking it was just done but judging the church that everything has been kept, I hunched that there would be no more 7pm mass.

I asked then a guy if there was Simbang gabi he shared there's none and the mass that was just finished was it. And tomorrow's mass then will be in ENG. If the announcement was clear that Sundays will cover the Regular Sunday mass I should have known better, it only stated it was an alternate Eng-Thai 7pm mass but no worries, at least I know I can come back tomorrow. I missed this day, let me just share the Homily I got from EWTN on youtube.

Simbang Gabi '11 --2nd day

2011-12-17T11:09:00.000+07:00

There was a change of schedule at work today which made me finish my classes at six instead of half past five. I hurriedly walked out of Tesco to get a bus to ABAC for the mass. The ride was pretty slow as some schools in Navamin area have Saturday classes. The ride took quite long and worrying of not making it on time. I then decided to get off in another stop taking my chances of getting a motorcycle ride to get to ABAC and to save time definitely.

I was running on my way to the building and even climbing up the stairs with my heels and there, the second reading was just done. I settled then in in front next to my two friends I felt so relieved I could hear the gospel. There was a great feeling that I made it to the Gospel, however as yesterday, the mass didn't have any homily. I figured the mass would still be in half and hour and knew that very moment it would be as yesterday.

I felt incomplete, I know the homily connects the priest to the churchgoers, in that moment he can relate and the connection between him and the people is felt much it makes the gathering in a more "family" setting. Without it, the mass is similar to a DVD being played and just watched by the viewers. That is aside from the fact that the homily expands the message in the Holy Gospel which is a very essential part of the mass.

I couldn't help myself but approached the Fil. who primarily does the assisting in there asking if it was possible for the Priest (not Fil.) to have at least a Homily. He defended the priest doesn't give any homily on weekday mass and he considers the number of people attending the mass. I myself studied in a Catholic school in the past and attended the daily masses, it rarely happened for our priest not to give any homily in the half-an-hour mass. In a second I thought, we are not having an ordinary mass, Simbang Gabi is a devotional mass in anticipation of Christmas and we never do this everyday, we have this once a year. I think we miss something.

I believe it's enough and thankful, too that I learnt about it on the second day. I understand now better why there are very few people who came for the mass, in fact lesser than yesterday. And I've decided myself not to go back there for the Simbang Gabi anymore.

Simbang Gabi '11 --1st day

2011-12-16T22:15:00.000+07:00

It has been a long day for me today. I woke up with a terrible migraine the attack makes me like a vampire in my own term. I'm pretty comfortable with dim lights, I'm not into anything too bright except in clothings and when I have an attack, I get a problem dealing with anything illuminated or shining. I badly needed to cover my curtains with darker fabric to block any light that came in my room earlier. I wish I can describe how inconvenient it is (until this moment) ...it's just not fun and minutes before going out by the evening for the mass, I really thought of not pushing through wondering if I could make it, thanks God I made it to Annunciation Chapel at Assumption University also known as ABAC.

I was surprised there were very few who came to the very first day in there. I'm aware though that many attend the dawn mass at Holy Redeemer Church in Ruamrudee and the first day is always remarkable. Going back to ABAC, guess there were less than twenty who came. The mass just lasted for half an hour and unfortunately, there wasn't any homily after the gospel.

I decided to drop by Big C after, I thought of taking a walk for awhile then headed to the street where I can take a ride- a short cut ride to home. And before that, I got myself some tangerines and bananas. I had porridge for dinner, it was cool to eat on the sidewalk. I just realized that it is pretty different to walk past by a sidewalk eatery than eating in there, the perspective is never alike. If you're in Bangkok, this is common in the evening, wherever part of the city you may go.....and me tonight? In there in Naram known as the night shopping/market road.

Looking forward to hear the homily tomorrow as I'll be in the same chapel.

The Immaculate Conception

2011-12-08T22:11:00.044+07:00

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

source: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com

490 To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." 132 The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace". 133 In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace.

491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, 134 was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. 135
492 The "splendor of an entirely unique holiness" by which Mary is "enriched from the first instant of her conception" comes wholly from Christ: she is "redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son". 136 The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" and chose her "in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love". 137
493 The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God "the All-Holy" (Panagia), and celebrate her as "free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature". 138 By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long.
132 LG 56.
133 Lk 1:28.
134 Lk 1:28.
135 Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854): DS 2803.
136 LG 53, 56.
137 Cf. Eph 1:3-4.
138 LG 56.

http://www.realcatholictv.com

Prayer to the Immaculate Conception (1)

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception

of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place
for Your Son,

we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son,

You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us,

purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.

Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

Amen.

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EWTN Global Catholic Television Network: Homily - Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

REJECT RH BILL for good.

2011-11-26T22:26:00.003+07:00

It is indeed a slap in the face of each Filipino citizen for some GOVT. OFFICIALS to support and back up the GREEDY private sectors aspiring for tax rebates in exchange of pushing a BILL and NGOs which take note - do not pay taxes at all in FACADE of caring for WOMEN'S HEALTH when all they are up to is the BUDGET and what financial GAINS they can get from what they are advocating.

"CARING" nowadays has tied up with PRICE TAGS and long term earnings. The Philippines strongly needs budget for better and genuine healthcare for the sick and the needy, budget to develop skills so more people can stand with their own feet and have better lives away from the POVERTY many of the Filipinos are into and finally, legislating laws for better social values and character.

We say NO to damping morals, uplifting people's character and status has NOTHING to do with contraception freebies much of the BILLIONS taxpayers funds of it! What we need is true DEMOCRACY when there isn't any money playing field in its core. This ISN'T certainly what FREEDOM AND SERVICE are all about-----the BUYS and PAYS. Thank you Rep. Karlo Nograles for the speech. More information on the vid, it's worth the watch!

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How FLOOD CAME to city

2011-11-09T15:27:00.002+07:00

I had another picture in mind how would the flood waters come to the city. I was thinking the river would overflow and so the water from the northern part of Bangkok would just flow down to the city. As I've mentioned in my other blog, I was surprised to see how the flood water formed as they started coming out from the drainage. I was thankful a sister of my student was able to take photos of the "process". Photo courtesy of Ms. Thithima Bonmak from FB. These are all her photos.

Appearance 1

Appearance 2

Appearance 3

Appearance 4

Appearance 5

Officially flooded

Flooding

These photos were taken somewhere east Bangkok in a residential area in Navamin. It's amazing, I have learnt that flooding varies as flash floods, flood plains and coastal floods. Of water coming from the drain is I think a bit special.

Sunday classes just cancelled on the spot

2011-11-06T22:08:00.002+07:00

I inquired yesterday if classes pushed through today and the staff said yes. This prompted me to ask as one of my colleagues shared that he was not coming today as his students cancelled the classes. I asked the staff how my students were and could they come and again, I got a yes.

I had the same situation getting to work today but flood is rising compared yesterday. As my Sunday morning "ritual", I had breakfast at Tesco and went to the language center. After a few minutes, a Chinese teacher colleague told me that classes be cancelled today. At first, I thought all but later clarified that it's after 12.

My class went one with two students in attendance. My other student in fact shared that his home has been flooded as well and that his family was with him at Tesco that time. It was also very quiet at Tesco that day, not the usual crowded with shoppers though apparently Tesco has plenty of stocks displayed. Work cannot confirm if there'll be work next weekend, everything will be based on how the water will go. If it rises, for sure classes be cancelled, if not then we can go on. I believe the same situation happens to some establishments and schools. No work is no income for many or less salary for some due to temporary closures of businesses.

Bkk Flood finally came at work in Navamin

2011-11-05T21:37:00.003+07:00

I woke up fine today, in fact a lot earlier than usual despite of having a little trouble sleeping. I then prepared to work, ironed my clothes and decided to wear my fave shoes. It took long to wait for the bus, at some point I thought of getting a taxi but surprisingly none came. The bus came in a while and I felt contented, feeling the breeze of a Saturday morning. I've always love the feeling, it's the same as taking a ride somewhere outside the city.

But I had no idea it would be shortened this time as the bus turned right instead of going straight. I noticed that we went past to some slightly flooded areas and thought it wasn't a big deal as yes, it's really normal to get flooded anywhere in Bangkok every after rains. It has been pretty hot and hasn't been raining these times though.

To continue the story, I had no choice but to take A WALK to work, in my three-inched-shoes! The distance is about a kilometer, good enough to exercise the heart I think. :) The water was still manageable today but impossible for me to get to Tesco Lotus or I had to walk on flood. I was glad a motorcycle came, actually was running past on me and I called the driver then I asked if it was possible for him to send me to Tesco. He said yes. I was thankful, fare is ten baht but I gave him twenty as I know how BIG his help was to me.

It's my first to see the flooding with my own eyes. The flood water is strange, I thought at first the rivers overflowing cause the water on the road but these waters come out from the many drainage near the sidewalk. Instead of these sucking the water in when it rains, they seep water this time resulting to flood. Frankly, the flood water is clear though it has a distinct smell. It hasn't reached knee-high for now and guess it isn't that worst yet in Nawamin. I could see many people wearing boots and carrying their mini-boats, but this is just near Tesco, the water could be worse in further Nawamin road as what I can see from the cross bridge and I never had the chance to see further for real.

I had to figure out out how to get home and then I had the motorcyle saving moment again. The driver was honest enough when I asked him to send me to the next bus stop. He said due to flooding buses (the other direction) can stop right in front of Tesco but then I thought I could still get wet with the splashes and took the ride to the next stop. I have to see how will this go tomorrow, the water should be higher by then. For now my work hasn't cancelled the classes yet .

In defense of MARRIAGE, ONE MAN - ONE WOMAN

2011-11-04T23:02:00.000+07:00

Repost from www.lifesitenews.com

Synopsis of the evidence in the defense of marriage

BY DALE O’LEARY

November 4, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The defenders of marriage should take advantage of what is known about same-sex attraction (SSA), because those promoting the redefinition of marriage have manipulated public opinion by distorting the facts and research. The five main distortions are:

1) Persons with SSA are born that way.

2) Persons with SSA can’t change.

3) Persons with SSA are just as healthy as persons in husband/wife marriages.

4) Same-sex relationships are just like husband/wife marriages except for the sex of the partners.

5) Children acquired by persons in same-sex relationships don’t have excess problems.

There are numerous studies refuting the first two points and no credible studies supporting either.

There are numerous well-designed large studies which have found that persons with SSA are far more likely that married men and women to suffer from:

· Psychological disorders

· Sexual additions and paraphilias

· Suicidal ideation and attempts

· Substance abuse and addiction, including to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes

· To have unstable, unfaithful, non-permanent, non-exclusive relationships

· To have health problems, particularly STDs including HIV and cancer

· To have been victims of sexual abuse, rape, or domestic violence

Those defending marriage frequently point out that same-sex relationships lack complementarity, but fail to explain how that lack affects the quality of the relationship and causes one or both of the partners to sacrifice something essential to their human dignity. Same-sex relationships fall into a number of patterns. The following list covers some of these patterns and how the lack of natural complementarity negatively impacts individuals involved:

1) Pseudo husband or wife – The man imitating the role of the wife senses it is unmanly to be dependent on another man. The woman imitating the role of husband often still wants to mother.

2) Parent/child – The younger male partner by accepting the child role sacrifices his right to become a full adult. The woman accepting the child role becomes permanently dependent. The relationship is inherently incestuous.

3) Asexual friendship – Many same-sex relationships start passionately and quickly devolve into asexual friendships. The same-sex friend no longer excites passion. The males in asexual friendships engage in casual sex outside the relationship. Among women, the “dead bed” is common. Asexual friendships do not need to be recognized as marriages.

4) Clones/fusion – Persons in some same-sex relationships try to eradicate all differences. Individuality is not tolerated

5) Loneliness caused by absence of the other sex or fear of the other sex caused by abuse – The persons involved sacrifice their natural heterosexuality. These relationships are inherently unstable and the person may, when the opportunity occurs, return to a heterosexual relationship.

Same-sex relationships do not promote the best interests or meet the real needs of the persons involved. The push for social recognition may be motivated by the erroneous belief that their relationship problems are caused by external forces rather than the inherent lack of true complementarity.

Children acquired by same-sex couples are also subject to problems inherent in their status. In addition, same-sex couples are more likely to be at risk for a number of problems which directly impact their ability to parent.

1) Intrinsic Factors – Every child acquired by a same sex couple has by definition been separated from one or both of his biological parents, through death, desertion, single parenthood, foster care, adoption, artificial insemination donor, or surrogate motherhood. Even in the best of circumstances such separation is perceived by the child as a loss. A same-sex couple is never the best of circumstances. It is by definition second best because it lacks a parent of both sexes. Worse still this particular tragedy is not accidental, but the result of the conscious, planned action of the persons on whom the child is dependent. These children are purposefully and permanently made fatherless or motherless. In addition, same-sex families with children function like a cult. The child’s loss is denied. The children are made to feel that their legitimate desire for a parent of both sexes is a betrayal of their family’s sacrifice in the face of a hostile, non-accepting, homophobic culture.

2) Risk Factors —Persons with SSA are far more likely than married men and women to suffer from psychological disorders, sexual addiction and paraphilias, suicidal ideation and attempts, unstable relationships, health problems, and to have been victims of abuse or violence. These problems rarely occur singly. Many persons with SSA suffer from a combination of disorders. In addition each same-sex relationship contains two persons who are at high risk, doubling the potential for a sub-optimum outcome. One has to ask: Are social workers intentionally ignoring problems when placing children with same-sex couples who have serious problems?

Those defending marriage need to make this information known.

Evidence supporting the material presented here can be found in my book One Man, One Woman. Those who need specific references may email me at dalemoleary@yahoo.com or my BLOG. #

BANGKOK FLOOD, a tragedy but inevitable

2011-11-03T15:06:00.005+07:00

Okay, I haven't written anything about the flood ever here in Thailand yet and decided to do it right now. It was a Friday night when it rained the whole evening here in Bangkok and my place got flooded by Saturday morning. Nonetheless, I was happy the owner of my apartment was nice enough to get me a cab to work and later, wow! I was surprised to catch sight of the massive water from my street to the main highway. At some point, I got worried that the water would come in the taxi. I was five minutes late when I reached ECC. I made it for over an hour to get there from the usual twenty to thirty minutes. I payed out 200 baht meter finding the best road to take, that made the expense doubled from my normal ride.

My street was dry by the evening I went home and I had no problem the following day. After a couple of days, there! we had the news all over the city on flood and was advised to stock food as flood waters are coming to Bangkok. I had no idea at first how huge the damage was in Ayuthaya and I was completely surprised to see the intense of the effect of water coming from the north. I didn't worry anything at all until I saw lots of empty shelves in groceries specially water which is very essential for me. In a second I thought panic buying was on.

It has been over a month and thankfully, THERE'S NO FLOOD yet in where I live. I stay in Lat Phrao, Wangthonglang though we've been alerted to get ready, I'm thankful that the water hasn't come this close yet, for now I heard it's heading Bang Khae area. It is inevitable as no matter what, the water will find its way to the sea and Bangkok lies barely above sea level therefore it isn't a surprise the city will get the water from the upper lands.. Flooding is normal I think in Bangkok, how deeper will the water be this time and how long will it stay are still unknown and that make the status quo aberrant. I'm pretty sure the government is doing the very best to minimize damages which are escalating for now and yes, we all pray for this to end anytime soon and thus recovery be isn't that a total struggle.

Find below the various images so you can have the idea of my location and the situation.

The reds are the flood barriers protecting inner Bangkok

My location via google satellite

Lat Phrao, Wangthonglang

My location and the canals, in case the water will overflow .

Map of Flood up North heading Inner Bangkok

Bangkok in circle, the blue colors represent the water still on its way to the sea.
Photo courtesy of Jesper Hansson, a friend on Facebook

Bangkok Airport Flood level as of today. Photo Courtesy of Guy Lakeman

Click here for more : Thailand Flood Monitoring

Satellite image of flooded areas around Bangkok as of today
Source: www.gistda.or.th

Click here for more photos : Flood Gallery

For travelers on the latest update on flooding situation including maps stating which areas to stay and get rid of please visit www.thaitravelblogs.com

Here's the link http://www.thaitravelblogs.com/2011/10/map-of-flood-risk-areas-in-bangkok/

Maps of Flood Risks Areas in Bangkok

ALL SOULS DAY

2011-11-02T21:30:00.002+07:00

REPOST from www.ucatholic.com

All Souls Day follows All Saints Day, and commemorates the faithful departed, those who die in God’s faith and friendship. However, Catholics believe that not all those who die in God’s grace are immediately ready for the Beatific vision, i.e. the reality and goodness of God and heaven, so they must be purified of “lesser faults,” and the temporal effects of sin. The Catholic Church calls this purification of the elect, “purgatory.”

The Catholic teaching on Purgatory essentially requires belief in two realities:

1. that there will be a purification of believers prior to entering heaven and

2. that the prayers and masses of the faithful in some way benefit those in the state of purification.

As to the duration, place, and exact nature of this purification, the Church has no official dogma, although Saint Augustine and others used fire as a way to explain the nature of the purification. Many faithful Catholics, including Pope Benedict XVI, grant that Purgatory may be an existential state as opposed to a temporal place. In other words, Purgatory may be something we experience instantaneously, because it is outside of the confines of created time and space. The official dogma of Purgatory is hardly offensive, even if the popular understanding of it has led to confusion. As a more everyday explanation, many liken Purgatory to a place to “clean up” oneself before going into the presence of Almighty God.

All Souls is the day to remember, pray for, and offer requiem masses up for these faithful departed in the state of purification. Typically Christians will take this day to offer prayers up on behalf of their departed relatives and friends. Others may remember influential individuals that they never knew personally, such as presidents, musicians, etc. This may be done in the form of the Office of the Dead (Defunctorum officium), i.e. a prayer service offered in memory of departed loved ones. Often this office is prayed on the anniversary (or eve) of the death of a loved one, or on All Souls’ Day.

Christians have been praying for their departed brothers and sisters since the earliest days of Christianity. Early liturgies and inscriptions on catacomb walls attest to the ancientness of prayers for the dead, even if the Church needed more time to develop a substantial theology behind the practice. Praying for the dead is actually borrowed from Judaism, as indicated in 2 Maccabees 12:41-42.

In the New Testament, St Paul prays for mercy for his departed friend Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1:18). Early Christian writers Tertullian and St. Cyprian testify to the regular practice of praying for the souls of the departed. Tertullian justified the practice based on custom and Tradition, and not on explicit scriptural teaching. This demonstrates that Christians believed that their prayers could somehow have a positive effect on the souls of departed believers. Closely connected to the ancient practice of praying for the dead is the belief in an explicit state called purgatory. The New Testament hints at a purification of believers after death. For example, Saint Paul speaks of being saved, “but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15). Over time, many Church Fathers, including St. Augustine, e.g. in Enchiridion of Faith, Hope, and Love and City of God, further developed the concept of a purgation of sins through fire after death.

In the early days, departed Christians’ names were placed on diptychs. In the sixth century, Benedictine communities held commemorations for the departed on the feast of Pentecost. All Souls’ Day became a universal festival largely on account of the influence of Odilo of Cluny in AD 998, when he commanded its annual celebration in the Benedictine houses of his congregation. This soon spread to the Carthusian congregations as well. The day was celebrated on various days, including October 15th in 12th century Milan. Today all Western Catholics celebrate All Souls’ Day on November 2

http://www.ucatholic.com/saints/all-souls-day-2/

Happy ALL SAINTS DAY!

2011-11-01T17:50:00.000+07:00

Photo Courtesy of 100% Katolikong Pinoy FB Page

I surely miss the times how we, Filipinos celebrate November the first and second in the country. We go to the cemetery to light candles for the souls, pray and just spend time in there. We don't get to the place often but at least in a year we visit the graves to pray for the dead. At home, we cooked different kinds of Philippine delicacies and offered them to our respective altars along with flowers. The larger part of the food is spent of course for us to eat and share to our neighbors. It usually looks good having more dishes on the table adding those that are shared. It has been over six years, apart from Birthdays, Christmases and New Years, this season is just one of those I yearn being home with my family.

The Feast of the ALL SAINTS is a day to remember the glories of heaven and those who are there. We believe those souls who had lived well in life here on earth aligned to faith and good deeds are in the heaven with the Lord. While the feast of ALL SOULS day reminds us of our obligations to live lives on the holy path and that there will be cleansing of the souls of those destined to heaven. Some may be wondering why Catholics have these days as official holidays in the calendar, for info attached below is the video from Gloria TV explaining the events based on Biblical Scriptures.

My October '11 in a nutshell

2011-10-31T13:36:00.000+07:00

Whew, the clock is ticking fast and this time it's different as when I look back, I feel a bit strange and that there's a feeling of wasted times and moments, it makes me shake my head and stare right straight to wherever I am directed at that very minute I have the thought. My work is at the weekends and the rest of the days are spent at home if not in groceries or malls. Having so much time makes me think of a lot of things and that I should have been doing, where I should be and what should I have accomplished. These times refresh the old me of being loaded with lots of things in mind and I mean those that I desire and dream of. In a way there's this better sense of how crucial time is and how short life really is. The stages I think are quite quick that they have to be in totally different levels, not all get to every stage neither of the same duration and span perhaps that's just where the uniqueness of this living certainly comes in.

My kids at weekend classes have always been remarkable. From them I get those splashes of memories that are worth the smile and even up to crying by laughing. The wisdom the little kids have, their wits, their affection, their trust and less hesitations just make everything more colorful. I can recall I have a boyish nine-year-old- girl during break as we do take our snacks together and settle outside the classroom who just told me, "Teacher, you know I'm a girl and I'm a boy. Do you understand?". I responded in a question, "do you mean you want to be a boy even though you're a girl?" She answered, "teacher, in the morning, I want to be a girl and in the afternoon, I'm a boy." I asked her back,"do you want to be a boy?". She answered again: " I want to be a girl and a boy". I gave her a smile back saying she's a beautiful and smart girl.

Another one that I can't forget also was when we talked about school rules, as in language classes we had the "we have to", "we don't have to", and "we can't". It was a wrap-up activity I asked each one to tell me something about their respective school rules using the language, and surprisingly, I got these: "we have to "poo" in the toilet", "we don't have to kiss in the classroom" , "we can't fart in the classroom" as the highlight. I have no idea where my nine-year-old- kids get these but they genuinely made us all laugh. Such moments are fun for them while learning, as a teacher it's amazing to get these surprises once in a while as hearing from them something that I personally haven't thought of. Just Hahaha!

On the other hand, this flood disaster has been a bit stressful to the country, worse to those who have lost their loved ones, their homes, businesses and properties in Northern Bangkok. I don't have a property myself and I know how difficult it is to get one, losing something should be harder to deal. It was heartbreaking to see the damages the flood has brought and to think these aren't insurance covered which means when one suffers loss of any property then they have to go back to zero if I'm not wrong. We have been alerted here in Central Bangkok since end of September and we have been stocking food since then. We ran out of stocks and then get another set. The most difficult part for me is getting bottled water. I drink water everyday of course and I can approximately finish five liters of water in three days and by the time I need more, there's no stock available. I witnessed Tesco Lotus people these past weekends getting bottled waters for their weekly donation I assumed, for the flood victims. I think too, at this time the evacuees need clean and safe water the most, should be one of the reasons of common empty shelves and people in some way in panic buying. I'm glad though that the groceries try to get more dry goods at a time.

It's been over a month since we've had the flood alert, it hasn't affected my area yet at least. I'm still hopeful that we stay dry in here and that we will have better days to look forward to. I saw the satellite on the water up north those are just HUGE. It's a miracle that it hadn't hit Bangkok that much yet talking about how massive it is and how tiny Chao Phraya and other river outlets for the waters to go to the sea.

Work at the weekend goes on in my branch which again I'm thankful as it's the only source of income for me these times. I've learnt that some of my company's branches decided to close due to the situation. We had our yearly halloween fun last Saturday and Sunday, the kids had games and some food as usual.

And today, oh well I thought it's the first day of November already, I haven't thought of October the 31st until I open my notebook. But I'm sad as I learnt that it's my favorite English FM station in Bangkok's last day on air. Wave 88.00 has been by morning "mate" this year, it started as my energizer to get me prepared to work. I'll miss the station for sure and the pop music they play.

Finally, I'm not sure how should I give a rundown exactly except that this month has been both idle and active, the former is in matters of work, the latter is on memories, worries and perhaps issues relating to the present status quo. It is full of uncertainties still out there -big ones, but I don't want to worry much and spoil myself to the kind. I just believe that HOPE is healthier and that's what I need better.

Economic VALUES should support family LIFE, Pope Benedict says.

2011-10-20T11:53:00.004+07:00

The FAMILY is the basic unit of the society, this fact has never changed at all and if the rest support this truth, this world could have been better. Below is the article of National Catholic Register on the Pope speaking to the participants in the annual conference of the Centisimus Annus Foundation last October 15, 2011. It is indeed Tips of doing business - the RIGHT way.

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Pope's Tips for Doing Business

Economic values should support family life, Benedict says.

by DAVID KERR (EWTN/CNA) 10/18/2011

VATICAN CITY (EWTN News/CNA)—Pope Benedict XVI called for new ways of doing business, in keeping with the dignity of workers and their families, during an Oct. 15 address to promoters of Catholic social doctrine.

“Family and work are privileged places for the construction of the vocation of man, collaborating in the creative work of God today,” he told the Fondazione Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice, a Vatican-based lay organization that spreads the Church’s social teaching around the world.

Its members met in Rome for a two-day conference on the relationship between family and business.

In his speech to the foundation, the Pope recalled how the Second Vatican Council “spoke of the family in terms of the domestic church, an ‘untouchable sanctuary’ where the person matures in affection, solidarity and spirituality.”

“The economy with its laws must always consider the interests and the protection of this primary cell of society,” the Pope noted.

His comments coincide with important anniversaries in the history of Catholic social teaching. Pope Leo XIII published the first modern encyclical on the topic, Rerum Novarum, 120 years ago in 1891.

Meanwhile, 2011 also marks 30 years since Blessed John Paul II’s family-centered apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio and two decades since he addressed economic questions in the encyclical Centessimus Annus.

Pope Benedict said that although “great changes have taken place in the world” since the days of Leo XIII, the Church “always promotes the human person and the family, in their context in life, even in business.”

He stressed the economy’s need for good families, observing that “it is primarily in the family that we learn the right attitude for living in society,” including the “world of work, economics, business.”

In these fields, he said, values from family life help people to be “led by charity, the logic of generosity, solidarity and responsibility for one another.”

Pope Benedict recognized that the present economic crisis has hit families hard. He highlighted his 2009 encyclical Caritas in Veritate as a guide to building a more humane society and economy, based on “a new harmonious synthesis between family and work.”

“It is not the task of the Church to define the ways to tackle the crisis,” the Pope acknowledged.

But Christians, formed by the Church’s teaching, have a duty “to denounce evil, to testify and to keep alive the values that underpin human dignity and to promote those forms of solidarity that promote the common good,” helping humanity become “more and more the family of God.”

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/popes-tips-for-business/

Pope Benedict XVI describes the importance of family values during this tough economic time.

2011-10-20T00:38:00.000+07:00

PAPAL ADDRESS TO CENTESIMUS ANNUS FOUNDATION

"The Relationship Between Family and Work"

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 18, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave Saturday to participants in the annual conference of the Centesimus Annus Foundation.

* * *

Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and the Priesthood,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am very happy to receive you on the occasion of the annual congress of the Centesimus Annus-Pro Pontifice Foundation, which has gathered you for two days of study on the topic of the relationship between family and work. I thank the president, Dr. Domingo Sugranyes Bickel, for the courteous words he addressed to me, and I greet you all cordially.

As was noted, this year marks the 20th anniversary Blessed John Paul II's encyclical Centesimus Annus, published 100 years after Rerum Novarum, as well as the 30th anniversary of the apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio. This double celebration makes your topic even more timely and opportune. In these 120 years of development of the Social Doctrine of the Church, great changes have taken place in the world, which could not even be imagined at the time of the historic encyclical of Pope Leo XIII. However, though external conditions have changed, the internal patrimony of the social magisterium has not changed. It always promotes the human person and the family, in its context of life and also that of business.

The Second Vatican Council spoke of the family in terms of a domestic Church, an "untouchable shrine" where a person matures in his affections, in solidarity, in spirituality. Economy as well, with its laws, must always consider the interests of this primary cell of society and safeguard it; the word "economy" itself in its etymological origin contains a claim to the importance of the family: oikia and nomos, the law of the home.

In the apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio, Blessed John Paul II indicated four duties for the family institution, which I would like to recall briefly: the formation of a community of persons; service to life; participation in society and participation in the Church. All of these are functions at whose base is love, and it is to this that a family is educated and formed. "The love between husband and wife," the venerable Pontiff stated, "and, in a derivatory and broader way, the love between members of the same family-between parents and children, brothers and sisters and relatives and members of the household-is given life and sustenance by an unceasing inner dynamism leading the family to ever deeper and more intense communion, which is the foundation and soul of the community of marriage and the family" (No. 18). In the same way, love is at the base of the service to life, founded on the cooperation that the family gives to the continuity of creation, to the procreation of man made in the image and likeness of God.

And it is first in the family where correct behavior is learned, so as to live in society, also in the world of work, of economy, of business -- which must be guided by caritas, in the logic of gratitude, of solidarity and of responsibility for one another. "The relationships between the members of the family community are inspired and guided by the law of 'free giving," John Paul II wrote. "By respecting and fostering personal dignity in each and every one as the only basis for value, this free giving takes the form of heartfelt acceptance, encounter and dialogue, disinterested availability, generous service and deep solidarity" (No. 43). From this perspective, the family passes from being a mere object to being an active subject capable of recalling the "human face" that the world of economy must have. If this is true for society in general, it assumes even greater importance in the ecclesial community. Also in evangelization, in fact, the family has an important place, as I recalled recently in Ancona: It is not, simply, the recipient of pastoral action, but is its protagonist, called to take part in evangelization in its own original way, putting at the service of the Church herself and of society its own being and action, as ann intimate community of life and love (cf. apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio, No. 50). The family and work are privileged places for the fulfillment of the vocation of man, who collaborates in the creative work of God today.

As you noted in your addresses, in the difficult situation we are experiencing, we are unfortunately witnessing a crisis in work and in the economy, which is accompanied by a crisis in the family: the conflicts of couples, generational conflicts, conflicts occasioned between the times of the family and of work, occupational crises, create a complex situation of unease that influences social living itself.

A new harmonious synthesis between the family and work is therefore necessary, and the Social Doctrine of the Church can offer a valuable contribution. In the encyclical Caritas in Veritate I wished to highlight that the family model of the logic of love, of gratitude, and of gift goes together with a universal dimension. Commutative justice -- "give to have" -- and distributive justice -- "give to owe" – are not sufficient in social living. To have true justice it is necessary to arrive at gratuitousness and solidarity. "Solidarity is first and foremost a sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone, and it cannot therefore be merely delegated to the State. While in the past it was possible to argue that justice had to come first and gratuitousness could follow afterwards, as a complement, today it is clear that without gratuitousness, there can be no justice in the first place. (...) Charity in truth, in this case, requires that shape and structure be given to those types of economic initiative which, without rejecting profit, aim at a higher goal than the mere logic of the exchange of equivalents, of profit as an end in itself" (No. 38).

"The market of gratuitousness does not exist, and attitudes of gratuitousness cannot be established by law. Yet both the market and politics need individuals who are open to reciprocal gift" (No. 39). It is not the duty of the Church to define the ways to address the present crisis. However, Christians have the duty to denounce evils, to attest to and to keep alive the values on which the dignity of the person is founded, and to promote those ways of solidarity that foster the common good, so that humanity will become the family of God.

Dear friends, I hope that the reflections that have arisen in your conference will help you to assume ever more actively, your role in the spreading and implementation of the Social Doctrine of the Church, not forgetting that "development needs Christians with their arms raised towards God in prayer, Christians moved by the knowledge that truth-filled love, caritas in veritate, from which authentic development proceeds, is not produced by us, but given to us" (No. 79). With this hope, while I entrust you to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, I impart to you and to your dear ones my wholehearted special Apostolic Blessing.

[Translation by ZENIT]

http://www.zenit.org/article-33682?l=english

Gratitude: EVEN IN DARKNESS WE RECALL THE GOOD THINGS - Pope Benedict XVI

2011-10-14T10:57:00.001+07:00

13/10/2011 18:43:48:

In our prayer, "We should look at how often, in the events of our lives, the Lord has protected us, guided and helped us -- and we should praise Him for what He has done for us." This was just one of the remarks Pope Benedict XVI made to the faithful gathered Wednesday in St Peter's Square for the weekly General Audience.

Commenting on Psalm 126, Benedict XVI recalled the joy that fill those who experience the great things that God does. "We must be more attentive to the good things that the Lord gives us," said Pope Benedict. "We always pay attention to the problems, difficulties and almost do not want to see that there are good things that come from the Lord. This kind of attention," he said becomes GRATITUDE which is very important for us. Gratitude creates a memory of the good that also helps us in the dark times."

"The history of humanity and the history of every person, there are pains, uncertainties and moments of crisis though even in these we are living a history, a story of salvation because in the end, in Jesus, our every exile has ended, every tear is dried in the mystery of His cross, of death transformed into life as the seed that falls to the ground and becomes a shoot."

http://en.gloria.tv/?media=204692

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=vatican#p/u

Forgiveness

2011-10-13T13:19:00.002+07:00

I'm inspired to write something about the title due to a facebook status and the comments that follow it. Forgiveness comes to those who sincerely repent and obey God's commandments. There is forgiveness in acknowledging faults and not doing the same thing again and in times of carelessness and weaknesses which one really feels sorry about. It affects how we deal with life I think. Some people insist that God is a forgiving God so it's fine to "intentionally" do things that are in the first place oppose to God's will. Why do we do continually these actions that we know displease Him? Worst, living with them! I believe I don't have the right to judge, I'm just at the point of wonder and question why these things happen.

It is the same as offending someone as one knows he can be forgiven anyway and that very person is incapable of not forgiving. It's selfishness when we negligently consider the welfare of others much as instead of giving them reward and be grateful to their kindness, we do the contrary.

This isn't rare, many times decisions are done at the expense of others as the other party understands anyway and the other doesn't. For times, those who have "problems" - "attitude problems" so to speak are better compensated believing it's the best way out of trouble. Turning the situation to those who truly deserve unfairly treated and have been taken advantage of their goodness.

In cases when we have to decide ourselves, I think we better take decisions that we are mainly responsible for, not in the expense of someone else, again, more so of their goodness and kindness. Isn't it unfair to think that some suffer in grief due to the choices others have made? Much more as those persons have done nothing bad against anyone for them to be inflicted with pains and giving them less than what they are entitled to.

Forgiveness is kindness and understanding. Asking one comes with sincerity and authentic repentance which each person definitely knows what is genuine within. It's not what others see but how God sees the inner soul and dedication to His commands.

It's easy to ask forgiveness when one is in that habit, it is opposing pride unless pure and never deceitful.

Contraceptives Kill People, Harm the Environment, and Bankrupt the Economy

2011-10-13T12:27:00.000+07:00

by Matthew Archbold Tuesday, October 11, 2011 10:34
Source: National Catholic Register

Contraception is popularly heralded as a great societal advancement while the Catholic Church’s stance against it has been viewed by many as, at best, counter cultural and, at worst, indicative of a Church whose time has passed.

The truth is, however, that the mainstreaming of contraception may be one of the most calamitous events of the past century. While it’s been shown that the availability of contraception has led to increases in illegitimacy, abortion, broken families, and helped to create an epidemic of single motherhood there are other consequences as well. Contraceptives are responsible for an increase in HIV cases in Africa, harming the environment, and bankrupting the worldwide economy.

1) Contraception Kills.

A story reported just this week from CNA shows that contraceptive use in Africa may increase the risk of acquiring HIV in Africa.

HIV-negative women who use hormonal contraception injections have nearly twice the risk of contracting HIV, while the HIV-negative male partners of infected women also face an increased risk.

The study, led by University of Washington researchers, was published in The Lancet Infections Diseases journal…The study could mean that the promotion of hormonal contraception in Africa has inadvertently fueled the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

You probably didn’t read much of that study in the mainstream media. Nor have you likely heard that in 2003, a study out of the University of California, found no evidence of condoms working as a primary HIV-prevention measure in Africa. In fact, one Harvard researcher said that condoms may actually inspire some to riskier sexual behavior and actually promote AIDS.

So remember all those folks who said that the Pope was responsible for all those deaths in Africa because of the Church’s ban on contraception. Remember the cartoon that ran in The Philadelphia Inquirer which depicted the pope callously telling dying Africans in an AIDS ward: “Blessed are the sick, for they have not used condoms.” Well it’s certainly looking increasingly likely that the Pope was right. And the mass push from international organizations for contraception availability in Africa may actually be helping to increase the horrors of HIV in Africa.

2) Contraception is Harming the Environment.

The Pill is polluting the environment, harming sea life, and may be part responsible for male infertility.

One of the consequences of The Pill is that massive amounts of hormones are…shall we say…released into nature through female urine. To what effect?

WND reports:

EPA-funded scientists at the University of Colorado studied fish in a mountain stream near Boulder, Colo… When they netted 123 trout and other fish downstream from the city’s sewer plant, they found 101 were female, 12 were male, and 10 were strange “intersex” fish with male and female features.
It’s “the first thing that I’ve seen as a scientist that really scared me,” university biologist John Woodling told the Denver Post.

The main culprits were found to be estrogens and other steroid hormones from birth-control pills and patches that ultimately ended up in the creek after being excreted in urine into the city’s sewers.

The EPA has ignored that study and others. The UK’s Environment Agency actually went ahead and labeled the Pill as a pollutant but are also turning their heads away from the disaster.

Environmentalists have remained predictably apathetic about this pollutant. We can all figure out the whys on that one.

3) Contraception Bankrupts Economies.

The mainstreaming of contraception has led to a decrease in births nationwide and in many countries around the world. This decrease in births will likely have catastrophic consequences in Europe, Russia, and China in the very near future with America as well.

In many countries, less and less workers will be forced to bear the burden of the unfunded liability arising from an increasing amount of retirees whose life expectancy is increasing.

Zenit reports that a recently published report called “The Sustainable Demographic Dividend: What Do Marriage & Fertility Have To Do With the Economy?” delivers a warning that unless the birth rate rises, the consequences could be catastrophic with fewer workers supporting a greater number of retirees. This will eventually lead to a sharp decline in the global economy which some believe we’re already feeling the effects of now. Things have gotten so bad in Russia already they’re paying people to have babies. Things are almost as bad in Europe but they’re still ignoring the problem while they allow immigrants to make up the demographic shortfall.

These are only some of the catastrophic effects of contraception. Hopefully, some will look into this and wonder if the ol’ Church may have been on to something all along. And hey, if the Church is right about this, you’ve gotta’ wonder what else it may be right about. Hmmm.

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/matthew-archbold/contraceptives-kill-people-harm-the-environment-and-bankrupt-the-economy

My Birthday Thanksgiving 2011

2011-09-21T19:26:00.018+07:00

2011 has been a bit a frustration for me as I made plans especially for my birthday this year to celebrate at home in the Phils however, due to some circumstances, I didn't make it. It's not the first time though as far as I can remember, I thought of supposedly a very special gift for my loved ones years ago but a tragedy happened. I don't know, sometimes I get to assume that I shouldn't be planning anymore as for some reasons they just don't happen. Or at least just keep some thoughts to myself especially on travel plans. Sigh.

There are things in this world that are beyond our control and no matter what, we can't do those things all by our own, I am of course not exempted to that fact. I've fully accepted that reality. Possibly I have just learnt enough to be firm on things that I can and can't do, regardless I am aware that in some way these annoyances don't really feel better and since I don't want to be stuck on anything that would certainly drag me down, I just take the moments of doing things that would pay for the wasted plans.

I still have hundreds of reasons to be thankful, I've have had much blessings that I cling to and these give me more strength in my daily undertakings. My family alone is my greatest gift, I feel I am the luckiest on earth having such a loving family. Friends, too who have been there for years and the many new acquaintances that remind me on life's lessons and beauty.

It took long for me to finally decide where to have my birthday dinner. At first, I wanted to have it in this certain cafe in a hotel which I thought worth the price but later I found out that the drinks were very limited and saw the photos on food that in my opinion not really that enticing to the senses. Anyway, checking my budget and list, I finally settled in Sta.Fe. One thing I love about the place is that my guests can choose any dish they prefer aside from the fact that the restaurant doesn't serve Thai food. It should be cool to stay away from anything like it at least for a dinner. Of course, I love Thai food I just go for alternatives this time. :)

This is indeed a thanksgiving as life is a precious gift despite the challenges. I believe there's no room to be regretful in life, the gift alone is incomparable and the added year to living is definitely right to be thankful enough. I am grateful and happy, too as I learnt that my family celebrated my birthday as well at home. They did the same in the past years, last year my mother took the family and relatives to a buffet restaurant for my birthday bash even of me not being there. And this year, they cooked some dishes for the celebration at home.

This makes me really feel extraordinary most especially that I never told them to do so. My family makes it a habit to celebrate our birthdays even of us not being at home. And of me being here away from home, then I should celebrate my very own birthday at least of thanksgiving. It's double three and still COUNTING--yes, both the age and blessings. :)

Pre - Birthday SPREE

2011-09-19T23:17:00.007+07:00

Thought of going to the place I finally decided where to have my birthday this year. It's a fave place by the way I used to drop by the restaurant after work and do some shopping at times in the shopping mall where it is located. Thailand has fabulous foods and I have no problem dealing with the spiciest of the spiciest foods if that is the correct term hahaha! Yet, sometimes I crave for steaks and just something different. Sta.Fe Steak house is a good place,. it's one of the restaurants I often visit along with Fuji and Black Canyon. I don't go to Black Canyon that often though these times, not as much as Fuji and Sta. Fe.

Sta Fe. has new set of menus and I was amazed learning about their Gangster promotion in the other branch. I asked the staff if they had the same promotion in some other branches she confirmed yes, so I thought it would be good to reconfirm since tomorrow is my birthday bash.

I found out the Gangster menu is only in the Mall Bangkapi but that has no reason to worry as I noticed that they have more fabulous menus and not pricey. I had New Zealand mussels, spinach soup and iced lemon tea. I had a good meal despite of the mussels being loaded with garlic, I just think it was too much. I love garlic though as it's healthy. After dinner, I confirmed my reservation for tomorrow and picked my preferred table.

Went to Doi Chaang after for dessert, the cafe offers organic coffee. I didn't have caffeine, I had blueberry frappe instead paired with low cholesterol chocolate cake. It felt great taking my time in there while people watching. The site comprised the people from grocery with their carts walking past to where I was seated.

Finally, I checked the cake for tomorrow's bash. Yes, I love the cakes from Lotus hotel they're cute and very feminine. :)

Church and state: Why can't they be friends?

2011-09-17T12:06:00.001+07:00

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has made the dangers of secularism a major theme of his pontificate.

And it's a battle both sides take seriously.

On the one hand, the pope warns that societies without the moorings of Christian values will be lost at sea, unaware of or indifferent to the truth that anchors humanity to justice, peace, respect and solidarity.

On the other side are groups and individuals that hold so tightly to the democratic tenet of church-state separation, they don't want any voice tied to religion to be let loose onto the public square.

In many Western, especially European, nations, when a church leader speaks out on the ethical dimension of any issue, "immediately he is attacked as if he is interfering," said an official at the Pontifical Council for Culture.

"Your democracy becomes very selective" and intolerant when a whole sector of the community -- people of faith -- are denied the freedom of speech in the public realm, said Father Theodore Mascarenhas, a member of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier.

The separation of church and state, which is a hallmark of a democracy, "has also gone onto the separation of God and life unfortunately," in which religious beliefs and values are expected to be left not only out of the process of public decision-making, but out of people's own personal lives, too, he said.

Father Mascarenhas, a professor and biblicist, told Catholic News Service that Europe, seen in its frequent debates on whether to allow women to wear veils or crucifixes on school walls, must be careful not to fall into a kind of "Talibanization."

"The Taliban went and took off all the religious symbols of minorities in an effort to clean up," while it imposed its own belief system on everyone, he said. Cleansing Europe of its cultural, religious symbols is "an expression of fundamentalism in a very subtle form," too.

Meanwhile, in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, there is a genuine fear of religious groups or parties having political control and enacting repressive policies against minority groups.

One key topic, in fact, under discussion at the 2010 special Synod of Bishops for the Middle East was how to promote "positive secularism," a form of separation of government and religion that still allows people's faith to have a role in society without consecrating one religion as the religion of the state.

The church supports a form of church-state separation that ensures religions have a voice in society and that laws reflect moral values -- including laws dealing with life and marriage.

However, when religion becomes the primary source of a country's laws and religious authorities have civil power, members of minority communities end up being seen and treated as second class citizens, the current Maronite patriarch, Archbishop Bechara Rai of Beirut, told reporters during the synod.

These concerns show there are two very different understandings of secularism, Father Mascarenhas said.

In the West, secularism is understood as the problem of God being foisted out of the public sphere; but for the East, it's a positive state of affairs in which governments show respect and protect all religions, letting them have a voice and not treating anyone better than the others, he said.

The Indian priest said an example of how this mutual respect between religion and government plays out was when the Indian government asked the Indian bishops to watch "The Da Vinci Code" and tell them whether they thought the film should be banned, since it is against the law to offend any religion. The bishops did not find the movie offensive and allowed it to be released in theaters, he said.

"A real church-state separation would be that the church can freely express and ask its followers to adhere to the principles it holds dear," Father Mascarenhas said.

Even though there may be movements trying to oppose such freedom, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and East Timor are examples of countries whose constitutions protect the right of every religion to express its beliefs in the public sphere, he said.

"Asia is rather varied, but it is a God culture," he said, "There is a mindset that can't exclude God."

Even while communist movements in Myanmar, Vietnam and China have all tried to eradicate religion, they were never completely successful, he said.

"That is why in China they had to come up with a Patriotic Catholic Church," he said -- since the communists couldn't do away with God, they sought to control it.

The West, instead, saw a brutal severing of spirituality from the material world.

"When the Industrial Revolution took place we slipped, perhaps because we didn't have the strategy to fight extreme rationalization," he said.

"The Illumination actually brought darkness because it forgot that a heart can't rest unless it rests in God," he said.

People are hungry for God, he said, and "I find it funny that Europeans turn to Indian religions when Christianity can provide almost everything," he said.

"Show me one human situation that is not reflected in the Gospel," he said. Not only are the human challenges of death, fear, doubt and persecution detailed in the Bible, it also spells out the solutions, too.

"The answer to death is the resurrection, and the answer to doubt and anguish like Jesus felt in the garden of Gethsemane is give yourself over to the will of God," he said.

"Even the financial crisis has its answer in the Bible: It's a question of gratuity. Had those who have sufficient means remembered Matthew 25 and the Last Judgment where they'll be asked 'What did or didn't you do for those in need?' the world would be a different place and the crisis wouldn't exist," he said.

END

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1103680.htm

Central Ladphrao reopens

2011-09-02T21:57:00.005+07:00

I got excited when I saw the news ad on Central Ladphrao's reopening last weekend. The shopping mall is one of my favorite hang outs, it is like strolling in two shopping malls as both Union Mall and Central Ladphrao are in the same place. Central was closed for a couple of months due to renovation. This is one thing I like about Thailand by the way, they do renovations from time to time. Other malls have their own improvements as well but they never decided to stop operating unlike Central Ladphrao.

Anyway, I went there to check the new look and if there are something else new aside from the interior design. I got confused at first looking for a place to eat and I was really starving that time. After a few minutes of walking I found the area on the third floor. I stood for awhile and took the restaurant that was new to me. The name is Bangkok Streetfood. It is streetfood indoor then hehehe!. Anyway, it's buffet and it made me curious why the name is streetfood. Later, I found out that they serve soft noodles which the Thais call "kanom jeen". The kind of food is commonly seen in Bangkok sidewalks where people choose the desired soup along with a serve of soft noodles. The vegetable toppings are of variety which are unlimited and served in every table.

The restaurant however has many other kinds of noodles and some other kinds of food, plus veggies for salad and desserts including ice cream. The buffet doesn't have drinks with it however a cafe is part of the space so anyone can just buy any drinks one wishes in there. I had iced green tea during my meal. One thing about this buffet is affordability. Surprisingly it's just 89Baht which I really think is cheap thinking about the salads, desserts and other food available. The taste isn't that superb but with the price I think it's worth it. The meal cost me 159baht. I finished all my plates and I was really full.

After buffet I walked down and found out that it was Forever 21's opening. It was like oohh yesss! as I like the boutique which I regularly visit in Central World in Rachaprasong. Yes, a bit farther from my home. One thing I love about Forever21 is the accessories, earrings to speak. I like the designs they're so feminine and one can choose a variety of it from studs to dangling. I enjoyed the fashion shown they had, it was my first to see the kind in a boutique, like the fashion show was in the hall way with the theme hip-hop. They had professional fashion models but I think the highlight was the actors and actresses who walked in the ramp. It was all fun with music and the spectators actively cheering their idols. The show started late but it was a success, I thought it was such a good idea to come up with a fashion show during their opening. It's also great to note the Forever21 now comes nearer to where I live.

Los Cabos Mexican Restaurant in Bangkok

2011-09-01T10:07:00.007+07:00

We went to Los Cobos last night with bunch of friends for dinner. Indeed, it was a remarkable meal the restaurant has a devouring Fiesta Feast Platter which in fact, we ended getting our second serve.

The place is very accessible to BTS with just a few steps to be exact though it isn't really that easily seen from the (soi) street as there's this typical restaurant that faces right across the intersection. Well, the restaurant is on the opposite side.

The ambiance is good, it seems like the diner is in an old house which the restaurant really is. Its design is of a typical restaurant near the port or seashore as what is commonly seen in Mexico I supposed. We chose the table at the balcony, thought it was nice to get some fresh air. It wasn't that scenic though as the restaurant is surrounded by different apartment buildings and condos. Apparently one can see more balconies from afar.

I love the food, the meat was superb as it's really tasty which one can't just get anywhere else I think. We also had their margaritas as one of their prides and of course, the tacos and salsa.

It was a night of fun and laughter as well as satisfyinging our palates. Los Cobos is highly recommended for meat lovers as the price is really inexpensive. Anyone who is near Asoke or has the easy access to BTS Skytrain can for sure drop by and try what the restaurant can offer.

Pope Benedict XVI defends traditional view of marriage: MAN-WOMAN

2011-08-28T22:30:00.001+07:00

Pope defends traditional view of marriage

Author: Admin
Date: 25th August 2011
Source: Iona Institute

Only marriages which are faithful and open to the gift of life are "adequate to the grandeur and dignity of marital love," the Pope told young people at last weekend’s World Youth Day in Madrid.

Speaking to one and a half million people from all over the world, Pope Benedict said that God "many people to marriage, in which a man and a woman, in becoming one flesh, find fulfillment in a profound life of communion".

The remarks were seen as yet another robust defence of the Church's teaching on marriage.

Marriage, he told them was a "project for true love which is daily renewed and deepened by sharing joys and sorrows, one marked by complete self-giving".

"For this reason, to acknowledge the beauty and goodness of marriage is to realize that only a setting of fidelity and indissolubility, along with openness to God’s gift of life, is adequate to the grandeur and dignity of marital love," the Pope added.

He also warned them that "the dominant culture of relativism all around us has given up on the search for truth, even if it is the highest aspiration of the human spirit".

For this reason, he said, young people needed to "speak with courage and humility of the universal significance of Christ as the Saviour of humanity and the source of hope for our lives".

He said: "We are not the product of blind chance or absurdity; instead our life originates as part of a loving plan of God.

"To abide in his love, then, means living a life rooted in faith, since faith is more than the mere acceptance of certain abstract truths: it is an intimate relationship with Christ, who enables us to open our hearts to this mystery of love and to live as men and women conscious of being loved by God."

He encouraged those gathered there to be afraid "neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, his name will continue to resound throughout the world".

The Pope has previously warned about the threats posed to marriage by alternative family forms, such as same-sex marriage.

And he has frequently spoken out about the dangers to religious freedom and the quest for truth resulting from what he has called "the dictatorship of relativism".

During his visit last year to the United Kingdom, the Pope warned about "aggressive secularism".

Speaking to an audience which included Queen Elizabeth, Pope Benedict said: "Today, the United Kingdom strives to be a modern and multicultural society. In this challenging enterprise, may it always maintain its respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate.

http://www.ionainstitute.ie/index.php?id=1637

Foreigners' RIGHTS Under Thai law Seminar LAST PART - Q&A

2011-08-26T23:11:00.003+07:00

*There was a question on Bail and the Judge related that someone can bail himself or hire a "bailman" and of course hiring one has fees.

*One asked on computer crime as his e-mail had been hacked and that e-mail address sent many different e-mails to different people and the person wanted to clarify if there was A NEED TO PAY THE POLICE OFFICERS ANY CASH for the investigation.

-----Ans: It's the DUTY of the police officers or the civil servants to do it for FREE. If one asks for cash do not give anything or you can make/file a complaint to the Police Station Head or any higher ranking officer. It's bribery and is a serious offence in Thailand.

* If the court gave judgement on Impeachment but there's no arrest.

-----Ans. If offenders did not appeal, the court will make an arrest warrant. Police has the duty to arrest the person. It also depends on the jurisdiction of the arresting Police officers. The Police should try their best to get the criminals and send them to jail.

*How long can a criminal case last?

-----Ans. It depends. On murder it's at least 15-20 to life. Police has 84 days detainment, first detention is three days and after three days it must be forwarded to court and in prison shouldn't be more than 84 days. A criminal case should last from three to five months but not exceeding six months in court.

* Condo owner running after payment

-----Ans. Reference is the Customer Protection Act. This doesn't need any lawyer but has to appeal to court.

* What are the chances of Foreigners in Thai-Foreigner cases?

-----Ans. The Thais and the Foreigners have the same rights.

*What if a foreigners is a target of extortion by a government employee or Police officer?

-----Ans. That's unfair treatment. One should make (file) a complaint to a higher rank Police officer or the National Police.

* What is the minimum price/amount/expense for the victims in filing a case?

------Ans. Criminal Case is free of charge. ( in suing the offender)

------Ans. In Civil Cases --one has to pay the court fee. This is also depending on how much money the complainant asks for damage. It's TWO PERCENT of the amount of cash one files for the case but not over 200, 000 baht. If you win the case, the defenders pay back the fees. http://www.thailawforum.com/New-Court-Fees.html

-------Ans. If there's no money (this needs proofs/evidences as no relatives to help, debts etc.) one can ask the court on Customer Protection Law. One can have exemption for the court fee.

*If any police officer asked you to be a witness (you have no lawyer, they changed their mind)

------Ans. Offenders by Police: as a SUSPECT you can ask for a Lawyer before questioning. You can also ask for an interpreter for documents.

*A friend borrowed money costing 400, 000 Baht with contract but not paying.

------Ans. Lender: amount more than 2000, 000 with evidence in writing and with signature.

* Bar fights with Thais or Foreigners

-----Ans. Criminal procedures will be applied.

*Discrimination issues, certain discos allow only specific persons

-----Ans. 20 years below are not allowed in some bars.

*Traffic Accidents; settled who has the most expensive vehicles.

------Ans. It depends on the structure of criminal offence and if someone is injured re: criminal offence

*Should a suspect sign any document which he doesn't understand?

------Ans. You don't have to answer any question if you don't have a lawyer to participate in the inquiry procedure.

Foreigners' RIGHTS Under Thai law Seminar PART THREE

2011-08-26T22:57:00.000+07:00

Foreigners' RIGHTS Under Thai law Seminar PART TWO

2011-08-26T19:24:00.001+07:00

The second part was on the CRIMINAL LAW in Thailand. I just encoded the texts from the hard copies distributed during the seminar.

------------------------------------------------

How to determine whether an act of a person be criminally liable?

Criminal offence is constituted upon the following four factors are completely accomplished:

1. There is an ACT occurred.
2. The act shall constitute the completion of outer elements of the offence:

2.1 The ACTOR
2.2 The ACTION
2.3 The OBJECT of the action

3. The act shall be done under the INTENTION of the actor.

3.1 Desired Effect Intention
3.2 Foreseeable Effect Intention

4. The Causation

-The effect of an act is relative to the said act

-------------------------------------------------------

1. THE ACT

A person shall be criminally liable only when such person commits an act intentionally. To commit an act intentionally is to do an act consciously. ( Section 59 of the Criminal Code)

CRIMINAL CODE

* Section 295 " Whoever, cause injury to the other person in body or mind is said to commit bodily harm and shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two years or fined not exceeding four thousand baht or both."

* Section 73 " A child not over ten years of age shall not be punished for committing what is provided by the law to be an offence."

----An act shall also include any consequence brought about by the omission to do an act which must be done in order to prevent such consequence.

2. The act shall constitute the completion of outer elements of the offence.

2.1 The Actor

2.1.1 The Direct Actor

2.1.2 The Indirect Actor

2.2 The Action

Any action shall be deemed a criminal act when it is done in the last manner.

2.3 The Object of the Action

* Section 288 " Whoever murdering the other person shall be punished with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisoned as from fifteen years to twenty years. "

* Section 334 " Any person dishonestly taking away the thing of another person or the thing which the other person is a co-owner is said to commit the offence of theft, shall be imprisoned not out of three years and fined not out of six thousand baht. "

3. The ACT shall be done under the INTENTION of the ACTOR.

* Section 59 " A person shall be criminally liable only when such person commits an act intentionally, except in case of the law provides that such person must be liable when such person commits an act by negligence, or except in case of the law clearly provides that such person must be liable even though such person commits an act unintentionally.

To commit an act unintentionally is to do an act consciously and at the same time the doer desired or could have foreseen the effect of such doing. If the doer does not know the facts constituting the elements of the offence, it can not be deemed that the doer desired or could have foreseen the effect of such doing. "

* Section 60 " Whenever any person intends to commit an act against a person, but the effect of the doing of such act occurs to another person through a slip, it shall be deemed that such person intentionally commits such act against the person who suffers from the bad effect of such doing."

3.1. The ACTUAL INTENTION

3.1.1 The desired effect intention

3. 1.2 The foreseeable effect intention

3.2 The LEGAL INTENTION ( Slip Intention)

* Section 297 " Whoever commits bodily harm, and thereby causing the victim to receive grievous bodily harm, shall be punished with imprisonment of six months to ten years.

Grievous bodily harm are follows:

1. Deprivation of the sight, deprivation of the hearing, cutting off the tongue or loss of the sense of smell.

2. Infirmity or illness causing the sufferer to be in severe bodily pain for over twenty days or to be unable to follow the ordinary pursuits for over twenty days.

NEGLIGENCE

A committed act without exercising such care as might be expected from a person under such condition and circumstances and the doer could exercise such care but did not do so sufficiently.

* Section 291 " Whoever doing the act by negligence and that act causing the other person to death, shall be imprisoned not out of ten years or fined not out of twenty thousand baht."

* Section 390 " Whoever causing bodily or mental harm to the other person by negligence, shall be imprisoned not out of one month or fined not out of one thousand baht or both. "

* Section 225 " Whoever causing fire by negligence and causing thing belonging to the other person to be damaged, or likely to cause damage to the life of the other person shall be imprisoned not out of seven years or fined not out fourteen. "

4. CAUSATION

The effect of the act shall be related to the act. If there is no such act, the effect does not occur. It is said that such occurrence of the effect is related to the act. On the other hand,even there is no such act, the effect still occur, it can't be said that the effect is related to the act.

Foreigners' RIGHTS Under Thai law Seminar PART ONE

2011-08-26T18:09:00.001+07:00

Though in the program it stated that it would start at half past one, the seminar fortunately started at exactly one in the afternoon as spectators were all set by the time. The first part talked on the objective of the project as well as the interesting issues in Thailand. Such as the laws that one should know. The speaker reiterated that the Thais and the Foreigners have the same rights and that Thailand is the land of equality regardless of nationalities without "scare"...maybe he meant fear. Attached are the photos of slides that were presented.

International Legal Obligation: The right to know, the right to justice, the right to reparation

Foreigners' RIGHTS Under Thai law Seminar 2011

2011-08-26T13:41:00.000+07:00

It was a great opportunity for me to be part of the first ever seminar for Foreigners on Thai Laws held in Pattaya, City Hall last August 24, 2011. I got there at twenty past twelve and amazingly there were already a lot of people in the venue. The seminar was scheduled to start at one in the afternoon. The crowd was consisted mainly of men and of senior age. It was indeed a great idea of the Mayor and the court judges along with the sponsors to come up with the seminar as the topics are really important for the expats to be aware of especially in living in Thailand. It's commendable as well of them doing this service for free. I'd like to express my gratitude to the organizers of the event and hopefully as mentioned, there will be another seminar that will be held soon on Civil cases. Will surely look forward to it. Below are more info on the seminar details. I will share some insights and re-echo some topics of the event in another blog.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FIRST LAW SEMINAR EVER HELD IN THAILAND FOR FOREIGNERS IN ENGLISH BY PRESIDING COURT JUDGES

Hosted by: Pattaya City Hall, Represented by Pattaya City Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome

Sponsored by: Pattaya Times Newspaper & PAPPA Co., Ltd. Law Office

Supported by: Chonburi Provincial Court & Pattaya Administrative Organization

Panel: Chonburi Chief Judge Visit Sripibool and Presiding Judges from Chonburi Provincial Court

Moderator: American Drew Noyes, Managing Director PAPPA Co., Ltd. Law Office

Date: Wednesday, August 24th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Arrive: from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Out of Respect for the Judges: DRESS CODE STRICTLY ENFORCED
Smart Casual: No shorts, T-Shirts, low-cut blouses

NO RECORDING DEVICES ALLOWED! PHOTOGRAPHS APPROVED, BUT NO VIDEO or AUDIO TAPING.

Location: Pattaya City Hall
On North Pattaya Road Directly Opposite Tesco Lotus Superstore
Main Conference Hall, Thappaya Room in Pattaya City Hall on the 4th Floor

Parking: In the parking garage behind the main build

Legal rights of foreigners in Thailand will be discussed in Pattaya at the upcoming seminar by a panel of presiding judges from Chonburi Provincial Court.

Chief Judge Visit Sripibool has instructed Presiding Judge Mahachai Srithongklang of Chonburi Provincial Court to organize a seminar in English to help foreigners in Thailand understand Thai law, the judicial system and their rights. This seminar will be held in cooperation with the Pattaya Administrative Organization in Pattaya City Hall.

Moderator for the Thai law seminar is American Drew Noyes, Managing Director of PAPPA Co., Ltd. Law office in Pattaya who will field questions about the Thailand Criminal Justice organizations and their powers, rights of an arrested person, bail in criminal and narcotic cases, plea of the accused, and sentencing guidelines. The judges will answer questions after giving an overview of the Criminal Justice organizations and their power. Additional topics include:

- Rights of an arrested person

- Bail in criminal and narcotic cases

- Plea of the accused

- Sentencing Guidelines

Source:

http://thailawseminar.eventbrite.com/

Press release on the seminar here:

Chonburi Provincial Courts are stepping up their campaign to educate local expats on the finer points of the Thai Justice system.

Chonburi Provincial Courts are stepping up their campaign to educate local expats on the finer points of the Thai Justice system. In a recent press conference, Chonburi's Chief Judge, Visit Sriphiboon announced an upcoming seminar titled "Insight into the Criminal Proceedings for Adults in Thailand." The seminar takes place on August 24 in Pattaya.

“The seminar is part of our project to inform foreigners living in Thailand on the justice system and is aimed at providing useful information about where they can ask questions to further understand the legal system. We will also have judges on hand who deal with criminal cases to explain the methods with which legal judgements are made,” said Visit Sriphiboon.

http://pattaya-times.com/a7404-chonburi-courts-to-educate-local-expats-on-thai-law

Going God's Way - The Church's Teaching on MORAL CONSCIENCE

2011-08-18T22:38:00.000+07:00

ISSUE: What does the Church teach concerning moral conscience?

DISCUSSION: Moral conscience is man’s most secret core, and his sanctuary. It is there that “man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey” (Gaudium et Spes, 16). In his conscience, man not only discovers the natural law (cf. Rom. 2:15) but encounters God Himself, the author of the law.

While the natural law written on our hearts teaches us the general, objective principles of the moral life, conscience applies the natural law to particular circumstances, enabling us to choose what is good and avoid what is evil (cf. Catechism, no. 1777).

While all of us have the right and duty to follow our consciences, it is likewise true that our consciences must be correctly formed, and that is truly a lifelong task.

In the formation of conscience, the Word of God is the light for our path (cf. Ps. 119:105); we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice (cf. Catechism, no. 1785). Further, in forming our consciences, we must be “guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church” (ibid.; cf. Dignitatis Humanae [DH] 14).

One of the principal documents of Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes (GS), devoted an entire paragraph (no. 16) to the subject of conscience. It is worth quoting in full:

Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, tells him inwardly at the right moment: do this, shun that. For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. His dignity lies in observing this law, and by it he will be judged (cf. Rom. 2:15-16). His conscience is man’s most secret core, and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths. By conscience, in a wonderful way, that law is made known which is fulfilled in the love of God and of one’s neighbor (cf. Mt. 22:37-40; Gal. 5:14). Through loyalty to conscience Christians are joined to other men in the search for truth and for the right solution to so many moral problems which arise both in the life of individuals and from social relationships. Hence, the more a correct conscience prevails, the more do persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and try to be guided by the objective standards of moral conduct. Yet it often happens that conscience goes astray through ignorance which it is unable to avoid, without thereby losing its dignity. This cannot be said of the man who takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.

Listening to Conscience

Moral conscience, which helps us to make good choices in conformity with God’s plan for our lives, is a sign of our tremendous dignity as human persons created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). The Catechism points out, however, that we need “interiority” (i.e., adequate reflection, self-examination, etc.) in order to hear and follow the voice of conscience amidst the many distractions in our lives (cf. Catechism, no. 1779).

Conscience enables us to take responsibility for our actions. The judgment of conscience bears witness to the fact that we have made good choices, but also convicts us when we have made bad choices (i.e., committed sins), leading us to seek forgiveness: “We shall ... reassure our hearts before Him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything” (1 Jn. 3:19-20).

The Church has always affirmed that we must not deliberately act against the certain judgment of our consciences (cf. Catechism, nos. 1790, 1800). Saint Bonaventure, the great thirteenth-century Franciscan scholar and doctor of the Church, put it this way:

Conscience is like God’s herald and messenger; it does not command things on its own authority, but commands them as coming from God’s authority, like a herald when he proclaims the edict of the king. This is why conscience has binding force.[1]

“If your eye is not sound ... how great is the darkness!” (Mt. 6:23) Yet it does not follow that every judgment of conscience is correct. “Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them” (Catechism, no. 1786). As mentioned in the above quote from Vatican II, it is possible that a judgment of one’s conscience may be erroneous through ignorance, and a person may not be at fault for acting on such a judgment. But even if there is no sin, the bad choice is still a disorder, and one must work to correct the errors of moral conscience (ibid., no. 1793).

Further, we are responsible for forming our consciences, allowing God’s Word to truly be a light for our path. When we do not respect the dignity of conscience -- when we do not seek what is true and good -- the conscience becomes increasingly blind and less capable of making sound moral judgments (cf. Mt. 6:22-23; Veritatis Splendor [VS] 63).

The Catechism (no. 1792) gives several examples of how conscience can go astray, identifying the following sources of errors of judgment in moral conduct:

—ignorance of Christ and His Gospel

—bad example of others

—enslavement to passions

—mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience

—rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching

—lack of conversion

—lack of charity

Conscience is our personal link to God’s law, and it must be distinguished -- often with the help of a confessor or spiritual director -- from our natural inclinations and “passions.” And deep down we know that as Catholics we are not acting with a “certain” conscience when we make choices known to be at odds with the Church’s moral teaching.

It is interesting to note that in discussing the “culture of death” in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae (EV) (The Gospel of Life), Pope John Paul II also speaks, in an analogous sense, of the “moral conscience of society” (nos. 21-24). He speaks of the eclipse of the sense of God in our society and further teaches that, “when the sense of God is lost, there is also a tendency to lose the sense of man” (no. 21). In the area of human life issues such as contraception, abortion, suffering, poverty, euthanasia, etc., we witness on a societal level what happens to an individual who routinely ignores the truth of God and the truth of man: The distinction between good and evil is blurred, and eventually one may call “evil good and good evil” (Is. 5:20).

Yet, even in the case of extreme moral corruption on an individual or societal level, the voice of the Lord continues to beckon us to seek reconciliation and a fresh beginning (cf. EV 24).

The Truth That Sets Us Free

Any discussion of conscience has to take truth into account. After all, Jesus came “to bear witness to the truth” (Jn. 18:37). Vatican II’s Dignitatis Humanae (no. 8) emphasizes that the aim of religious freedom is to enable people to “form their own judgments in the light of truth.” But where is truth found? That same Vatican II declaration further provides:

In forming their consciences the faithful must pay careful attention to the sacred and certain teaching of the Church. For the Catholic Church is by the will of Christ the teacher of truth. It is her duty to proclaim and teach with authority the truth which is Christ and, at the same time, to declare and confirm by her authority the principles of the moral order which spring from human nature itself (DH 14).

Some Catholic commentators assert that a well-formed conscience and official Catholic teaching may come to opposite conclusions in moral matters. This opinion directly contradicts Catechism, no. 2039: “Personal conscience and reason should not be set in opposition to the moral law or the Magisterium of the Church.” A Catholic simply cannot claim to have a well-formed and well-informed conscience if he or she is ignorant of, misunderstands, or rejects outright God’s law and thus commits acts that the Church considers gravely disordered.

One who “disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and the Church proposes for belief” is “sinning against faith” (Catechism, no. 2088). Assuredly, there may be circumstances present that diminish the individual’s guilt, but that is very different from saying that the conscience is well formed.

The Church is not merely one source to be consulted as we form our conscience. The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. If we believe that Jesus is truly God, then we do not “consult” with Him -- we follow Him! The Church’s moral teaching is not just something that we can buy into in varying degrees based on our own personal preference. Rather, it is the truth of Jesus Christ that sets us free (cf. Jn. 8:32) and enables us to live fulfilling Christian lives.

We believe with a divine and Catholic faith all that Christ has revealed. Can we deliberately choose to reject any of Christ’s teachings and still call ourselves His disciples (cf. Mt. 7:21)? “He who does what is true comes to the light” (Jn. 3:21) In his encyclical on the moral life, Veritatis Splendor (Splendor of Truth), Pope John Paul II explains that a correct conscience involves a judgment in accordance with objective truth, while an erroneous conscience involves a judgment that a person subjectively considers to be true, but is not (nos. 62-63).

A good conscience, then, must be attuned to the truth, as found not only through natural law but also through the revealed truths of Jesus Christ as taught by His Church. The education of conscience and the fostering of the virtues is absolutely necessary if we are to be “transformed by the renewal of our minds” (Rom. 12:2; cf. Catechism, nos. 1783-85; VS 64).

Scripture teaches that “to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). We must allow His Word to enlighten our minds and change our hearts. Then, through the grace of Christ and the gifts of His Spirit, we are empowered to lead lives “worthy of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27), making good choices in keeping with our dignity as Christians.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND GROUP DISCUSSION:

1. Catechism, no. 1792 identifies some causes of errors of judgment when it comes to living a moral, Christian life. Are any of these items present in my own life? Do I understand God’s law as a source of freedom or a form of bondage? Do I live as a child of God?

2. The Church emphasizes the importance of having a properly formed conscience. What can I do to help ensure that my conscience is properly formed? (See Catechism, no. 1785.)

3. How would I charitably respond to someone who says, “I’m Catholic, but I disagree with many of the Church’s moral teachings. I follow my conscience on the subject of contraception and abortion”?

RECOMMENDED READING:

Holy Bible (Catholic edition)

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Vatican II Documents

Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)

Pope John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth)

Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life)

Precis of Official Catholic Teaching on the Christian Call to Personal Sanctification

Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners

To order, call Benedictus Books toll-free: (888) 316-2640. CUF members receive a 10% discount.

Hahn and Suprenant, eds., Catholic for a Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God

Leon Suprenant and Philip Gray, Faith Facts: Answers to Catholic Questions

Ted Sri, Mystery of the Kingdom: On the Gospel of Matthew

Leon Suprenant, ed., Servants of the Gospel

Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Without a Doubt: Bringing Faith to Life

To order these and other titles, call Emmaus Road toll-free: (800) 398-5470.

AVAILABLE FAITH FACTS:

• No Bull: Papal Authority and Our Response

• All Aboard!: Without the Church There Is No Salvation

• Following Our Bishops

• “We Believe in One God....”: The Nicene Creed and Mass

• That They May All Be One: The Difference the Church Makes

• The Theological Virtue of Faith

Last edited: 8/20/1999

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[1] II Librum Sentent., dist. 39, a. 1, q. 3, conclusion: Ed. Ad Claras Aquas, II, 907b, as quoted in VS 58 (Vatican translation).

http://www.cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=109

CONSCIENCE: Catechism of the CATHOLIC Church Second Edition

2011-08-18T22:28:00.000+07:00

LIFE IN CHRIST

SECTION ONE

MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

CHAPTER ONE

THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

ARTICLE 6

MORAL CONSCIENCE

1776 "Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment. . . . For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. . . . His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths."⁴⁷

I. THE JUDGMENT OF CONSCIENCE

1777 Moral conscience,⁴⁸ present at the heart of the person, enjoins him at the appropriate moment to do good and to avoid evil. It also judges particular choices, approving those that are good and denouncing those that are evil.⁴⁹ It bears witness to the authority of truth in reference to the supreme Good to which the human person is drawn, and it welcomes the commandments. When he listens to his conscience, the prudent man can hear God speaking.

1778 Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed. In all he says and does, man is obliged to follow faithfully what he knows to be just and right. It is by the judgment of his conscience that man perceives and recognizes the prescriptions of the divine law:

Conscience is a law of the mind; yet [Christians] would not grant that it is nothing more; I mean that it was not a dictate, nor conveyed the notion of responsibility, of duty, of a threat and a promise. . . . [Conscience] is a messenger of him, who, both in nature and in grace, speaks to us behind a veil, and teaches and rules us by his representatives. Conscience is the aboriginal Vicar of Christ.⁵⁰

1779 It is important for every person to be sufficiently present to himself in order to hear and follow the voice of his conscience. This requirement of interiority is all the more necessary as life often distracts us from any reflection, self-examination or introspection:

Return to your conscience, question it. . . . Turn inward, brethren, and in everything you do, see God as your witness.⁵¹

1780 The dignity of the human person implies and requires uprightness of moral conscience. Conscience includes the perception of the principles of morality (synderesis); their application in the given circumstances by practical discernment of reasons and goods; and finally judgment about concrete acts yet to be performed or already performed. The truth about the moral good, stated in the law of reason, is recognized practically and concretely by the prudent judgment of conscience. We call that man prudent who chooses in conformity with this judgment.

1781 Conscience enables one to assume responsibility for the acts performed. If man commits evil, the just judgment of conscience can remain within him as the witness to the universal truth of the good, at the same time as the evil of his particular choice. The verdict of the judgment of conscience remains a pledge of hope and mercy. In attesting to the fault committed, it calls to mind the forgiveness that must be asked, the good that must still be practiced, and the virtue that must be constantly cultivated with the grace of God:

We shall . . . reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.⁵²

1782 Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. "He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious matters."⁵³

II. THE FORMATION OF CONSCIENCE

1783 Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.

1784 The education of the conscience is a lifelong task. From the earliest years, it awakens the child to the knowledge and practice of the interior law recognized by conscience. Prudent education teaches virtue; it prevents or cures fear, selfishness and pride, resentment arising from guilt, and feelings of complacency, born of human weakness and faults. The education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart.

1785 In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path,⁵⁴ we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord's Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.⁵⁵

III. TO CHOOSE IN ACCORD WITH CONSCIENCE

1786 Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them.

1787 Man is sometimes confronted by situations that make moral judgments less assured and decision difficult. But he must always seriously seek what is right and good and discern the will of God expressed in divine law.

1788 To this purpose, man strives to interpret the data of experience and the signs of the times assisted by the virtue of prudence, by the advice of competent people, and by the help of the Holy Spirit and his gifts.

1789 Some rules apply in every case:

- One may never do evil so that good may result from it;

- the Golden Rule: "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them."⁵⁶

- charity always proceeds by way of respect for one's neighbor and his conscience: "Thus sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience . . . you sin against Christ."⁵⁷Therefore "it is right not to . . . do anything that makes your brother stumble."⁵⁸

IV. ERRONEOUS JUDGMENT

1790 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself. Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed.

1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man "takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin."⁵⁹ In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.

1792 Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one's passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church's authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.

1793 If - on the contrary - the ignorance is invincible, or the moral subject is not responsible for his erroneous judgment, the evil committed by the person cannot be imputed to him. It remains no less an evil, a privation, a disorder. One must therefore work to correct the errors of moral conscience.

1794 A good and pure conscience is enlightened by true faith, for charity proceeds at the same time "from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith."⁶⁰

The more a correct conscience prevails, the more do persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and try to be guided by objective standards of moral conduct.⁶¹

IN BRIEF

1795 "Conscience is man's most secret core, and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths" (GS 16).

1796 Conscience is a judgment of reason by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act.

1797 For the man who has committed evil, the verdict of his conscience remains a pledge of conversion and of hope.

1798 A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. Everyone must avail himself of the means to form his conscience.

1799 Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them.

1800 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience.

1801 Conscience can remain in ignorance or make erroneous judgments. Such ignorance and errors are not always free of guilt.

1802 The Word of God is a light for our path. We must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. This is how moral conscience is formed.

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a6.htm

LOSING Grip and walking away..far far away

2011-08-17T20:07:00.008+07:00

Time gets so slow at times for some and when things don't happen as planned, they get really sour and unfortunately makes one lose interest in anything. Inconveniences are natural occurrences and sometimes they are just too much especially when they all come at once. Occasionally these are the dealings we have with the devices we use in our daily lives as phone, computers or just the net connection. These stuff exist supposedly to provide comfort and more capabilities of performing more actions and saving time. But in times when they go wrong, they really do ruin ones day especially when there's no way of making a thing better or at least works.

I'm not sure if it is similar to how the rest react to the kind of tech drags but it does really wear me out. I can still remember the number of times I hit my notebook due to the annoyances which obviously gave me a lesson expense wise. It's just unfair to have these stuff for help yet at times they offer the other way we never desire to. Worst, if one is catching up with time to accomplish some work or just fulfilling an essential commitment.

I have to admit we have now a lot of better things giving the credit to modernization, it's just fascinating that no matter what, we cannot deny the fact that they do, too if not often let one down. And in such situation one would want to just walk away and go back to the woods and deal with nothing. At least for a moment there're ease and peace.

Guess this is of both emotional and mental struggle when one has set the mind to do a thing yet the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment is aborted. Making one hopeless or just in a struggle to take other options for the desired result though at times there's no other else to do but accept the fate and turn the attention to anything that makes one feel better at least. Smelling the roses perhaps helps. :))

Lighthearted

2011-08-10T23:25:00.005+07:00

No, this day hasn't been that ordinary as the past days. This started with an amazing scene when I had breakfast. On the other table an old man perhaps of late 70s was preparing a meal for his wife. Later, the wife asked for the man to get some food from her plate and added them to his. The moment was touching really for me looking at them as they ate at the same time sitting side by side. I was impressed more as the woman was busy taking care of her restaurant and the old man, too was assisting her in every way and despite the situation, they still managed to have their meal together.

Later in the evening, I opted to go to this Thai restaurant that offers dimsum food in a shopping center near my place. I couldn't read the menu and I get used to just point the photos for my order and so I did. The attendant smiled and pointed another picture, absolutely she remembered my orders even I haven't visited the restaurant for quite a time already, this made me smile and again felt glad in some way.

I went to KFC for a scoop of twirl ice-cream after. While waiting for my twirl a child maybe of five years old went next to where I was pointing each KFC ice cream photos one by one while saying.."this is not delicious, not delicious", not delicious!". Hahahahaha..of course not all of the photos were directed. ;)

Such moments! Anyway, I bought something for me later and then a big bottle of drinking yogurt and my mineral water. The day has been loaded at least of cheerful breathings.

What's your CARBON FOOTPRINT?

2011-07-28T16:51:00.004+07:00

Thick smog hangs over Hong Kong. Air pollution reached dangerous levels one of every eight days in 2009, according to news reports (EPA)

The main cause of global warming also known as the rise in the temperature of the earth is POLLUTION. Everybody knows this fact I suppose. Way back in elementary studies we were taught how can pollution affect the earth and the future if not manage carefully.

Pollution creates greenhouse gases and these gases that we produce everyday when we travel by car or by plane, when factories operate, and when we use electricity or appliances like TVs or computers STOP the sun's heat from escaping and so the earth gets hotter.

Each person creates these gases, no, not just by mere existence but by what one does. A person can measure how much his carbon emission is and this is called his CARBON FOOTPRINT. Everyone has one. We need to be aware of our carbon footprints and how we do affect or help reduce global warming.

Yes, this has something to do with lifestyle. The more a person is into modernity and or as what we perceive conveniences in life, the greater his carbon footprint is. A poor person in Africa compared to an elite living in New York is far different from the other, this is beside the point of wealth and innovation. The one in New York evidently pollutes the earth, not the one in Africa.

Those who are living in urban areas with such modernity and technology have more carbon emissions generally. The question then how should one lessen the devastation of everyday living and what can a person do to make his carbon footprint less?

These some tips I got from a textbook can surely help.

1. Use trains not planes - choose public transportation and avoid long trips by plane. Cars and planes leave big carbon footprints and use up the planet's natural resources. The price of individual convenience indeed is not so agreeable to planet Earth.

2. Eat local - choose food that grows in your own country. Then food doesn't have to travel a long way by plane. Greens and other organic produce are the best.

3. Eat less meat -choose vegetables for some of your meals. Animals create a lot of greenhouse gases. Any livestock farms produce more carbon dioxide when more people eat less meat and poultry it could mean lesser farms which help minimize carbon dioxide emissions.

4. Switch off - don't leave computers and televisions on when no one is using them. Unplug is the best word and not just for saving money but for energy all in all.

5. Reuse and recycle - don't throw things away. If you can't use them, give them to someone else. More waste means more pollutants unless a certain place or city has a proper waste disposal system, nonetheless, lesser wastes mean less CO2.

We don't have to wait for ten years or so, the future starts now. We know that our planet is changing and we have been experiencing the effects of the instability. This could get worse if we won't act today. It's a fact that it's getting hotter and it isn't good! What exactly will happen to our planet anytime from now?

When pollution gets worse, the temperature will rise, lakes and rivers will dry up, ice in the Polar region will melt, oceans will rise, there will be more floods, there won't be as many trees as there will be more forest fires. And after that, what? ....... I'll leave that up you.

For once, I thought it was insane for us to dream and even aspire for wealth and affordability of having these modern technologies when these all eventually harm the very place we live in. And amazingly, we make some people richer by polluting the earth. Take account on airplanes, these contribute a huge amount of CO2 and they are not cheap to avail, how much does it cost to get an airline ticket? Well, it's not less. Perhaps so more people can't afford any? Nonetheless, these give more income and profit to those operating the kind of business. I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just pointing out the effects of these developments as we thought. Yes, right, it's a business of convenience that unfortunately damages the planet.

We aspire on getting ourselves these brand new technologies that are being introduced from time to time when they're slowly killing our mother earth. Many go for birth control pills believing having less people offers more conveniences, more financial favorable circumstances and this saves the earth when in fact, these pills cause estrogen pollution which is not just a potential human health but also a huge marine life DISASTER.

I once asked my class why do we all dream of getting rich when in fact we just need to accommodate our needs for survival? Out of the blue my clever student uttered, BECAUSE WE ARE STUPID!. I was surprised, I myself didn't see that answer coming I was just apparently in wonder.

The SIMPLER life is, the LESS CARBON FOOTPRINT but who would care for the next generation when one thinks life is just about self and these present amenities and comfortable living nothing else? My thirteen-year-old-student is probably right.

Rest in Peace, Manny Amador

2011-07-22T23:51:00.002+07:00

The PRO-LIFERS mourn the death of a fellow Pro-Lifer, Manny Amador today. I myself was shocked when I heard the news as it was just a few days back when the late Manny Amador accepted my FB friend's request. I noticed him on mainstream media's commentaries and heard more of him from those opposing the RH Bill. Till the day, he at least liked a link on my wall then he was just gone.

He's a true versatile and gifted person who never forgot the goodness of God despite such blessings. I believe he is also surrounded by good friends which made him a friend to all. Here's the news on his death.

Passionate Linux advocate and local IT pioneer Manny Amador was found dead by authorities on Friday in his rented house in Cebu where he had relocated to work for open-source firm InfoWeapons.

He turned 49 last July 7.

Amador, brother of theatre actress Pinky Amador, apparently died in his sleep due to cardiac arrest that may have been triggered by diabetic complications. Sketchy reports indicated he may have been dead for three days before being discovered by local police.

While in Cebu, Amador also worked as correspondent for an IT publication. He also maintained at least three blogs which served as his outlets for his many persuasions.

Aside from being a hardcore techie, Amador was also an ardent anti-RH Bill advocate, a dedicated motorcycle enthusiast, and former lead guitarist of the pioneering Pinoy hard-rock band The Breed.

But the work that really defined Amador was his involvement in consumer activism in the early days of the Internet in the Philippines. He was a leading light in local IT scene when open-source was also just gaining a foothold in the country.

As president of the Philippine League for Democratic Telecommunications Inc. (PLDTi), Amador was deeply involved in opposing telephone metering being proposed then.

He also led the PLDTi in suing PLDT for P100 million after the telco giant included his group in a case against Gerry Kaimo who held the domain PLDT.com then.

In an interview with Wired Philippines, he had this to say about the issue: “PLDT clearly made a mistake when it included PLDTi in the lawsuit since the League does not own or maintain the PLDT.COM website. That’s why we’re suing them for P100 million. That should show them that they cannot just drag innocent people to court without facing the consequences. The League will not be intimidated by this malicious and clumsy attempt to silence it. We will continue to speak out against PLDT’s unfair and backward metering scheme and any other anti-consumer practices."

As a fervent open-source supporter, Amador said in the same interview said that an effective answer to software piracy would be the promotion of open-source software.

“Instead of fighting piracy, why not avoid it altogether? Linux, for example, is the world’s fastest growing operating system and it’s practically free! Can you imagine how much piracy could be diminished if government offices and business switched to Linux? The improvement would be tremendous," he said.

Born and raised in Manila, Amador graduated from Ateneo de Manila with a degree in AB Communication Arts and AB Philosophy. He, however, called Cebu his home in the last days of his life. Part of the reason he relocated to the province was to marry a local girl – but the wedding didn’t push through. Nonetheless, he stayed put and learned to love the island life. — Newsbytes.ph

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/227135/technology/pinoy-it-activist-manny-amador-found-dead

His blog against the RH Bill is this. His last post dated July 13 on a "Demolition Job Backfires":

The headline of the following story says it all:
No Pajeros, no luxury SUVs: Accusations hurled vs bishops backfire on PCSO
MANILA, Philippines – Accusations hurled by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office against Catholic bishops boomeranged on the agency on Wednesday after members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee quizzed the PCSO chief on why the prelates were accused of receiving Pajero cars when not one of them acquired the said luxury sport utility vehicle manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors using PCSO money.
As I expected, the truth eventually came out, and as a result the church-haters and pro-RH groups attacking the bishops over the PCSO donations now have egg on their faces. This was a shameless demolition job from the beginning designed to undermine the Church’s oppostion to the RH/abortion bill.
Well, the deception has backfired. While the bishops have been exonerated from any wrongdoing, the sheer malice of their detractors has become crystal clear. People know prejudice when they see it, and they will react. Online communities are now alive with ordinary persons — even non-Catholics — speaking out in defense of the Church. Even Sen. Miriam Santiago (author of the Senate version of the RH bill) has defended the bishops (at least on the issue on the constitutionality of the PCSO donations).
http://mamador.wordpress.com/

The I Oppose the RH Bill on FB offered an hour of payer for his soul.

We thank Manny for standing for life until his last breath, his death is a big loss to those who believe in the sanctity of life. He will always be remembered. Our condolences to the bereaved family, friends and loved ones. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!

The Best in good BASICS

2011-07-22T15:09:00.000+07:00

It's not the first time to hear that we learn first the ABCs of life and living at home through our parent's guidance, church, school and the rest of the people around us. When the fundamentals are set to righteousness and values of seeing things more than what the rest project what it is, then there's no worries facing more challenges as time goes by. As no matter what and in times of both confusion and temptation, the foundation rules.

Social problems are caused by an individual person and more of them doing the same thing creates a huge effect in the society as a whole. First, it wrecks the very person's life, then the family, the society and the whole nation. If it gets worst, it contaminates the rest of the world population and we call it human manipulation.

I think we are in this age of people lacking the ability of distinguishing right and wrong. All seem right for some and nothing is wrong. And this narcissistic ideology has greatly affected humanity in a much greater way.

The elemental con is still greed which others just view as business and for more profit in this deceit of protecting and offering help to humanity by imposing theories which they strongly believe are the best.

Sometimes I ask myself why do some people think this way, by lacking ability to see the longer effect of what they're doing and basically unconcern about the years ahead and for the many other generations to come. I remember one song of Michael Jackson on "they don't care about us". All these kinds of people think in a tiny box which they themselves are the only ones getting edge among the rest which we know aren't really lasting.

Many are blinded on hedonism that whatever they do they just do it for the sake of happiness. Not that I'm not into it but it's never the ultimate goal. If one is set to that vision he'd do anything he wants coordinating the concept regardless of this right or wrong facts. It's the same issue of convenience. People think life is best when it's convenient all the time and they stick to it regardless of the effects and the downside of the choice.

I believe adhering to the truth that doing things right is always the best thing to do. And knowing what is that right thing affects the person's principles on what's wrong and right. This is not selfish, this requires sacrifice and trust. A person whose basics are of the common good and compassion cares more to the bigger population above himself. It's the same thing of not limiting thoughts on the present but extending it to future and its advantages. He goes for authentic happiness and convenience that are definitely products of doing what is right. Doing the right thing gives a man peace and serenity and molds wisdom in living this life more abundantly.

When ones conviction is on genuine love and selfless motivations, take the credit to good heart and reason inculcated even when still young. Good basics then fuel the ride of this ups and downs of life and so major decisions that play a great definition of not just a single person but the society as a whole.

The Calendar

2011-07-21T09:51:00.004+07:00

I seldom have breakfast at home unless I'm not going to work then I either go have my morning meal in the nearest restaurants near where I live. I have so much time this term and I often go to this house just a few steps from my home for breakfast. The old lady maybe of eighty years old prepares the food and the husband assists as getting the plates and wash them at a time. He also serves the customers preparing glasses with ice and he often goes in and out of the house for the plates putting them back to the rack after he finishes washing about three or four plates. He also brings the rice cooker for rice refill on the display as usually more customers come in.

One thing I like in this place is its simplicity. It feels like you are in a family and being prepared for a meal. The place is nice, this old couple opens their gate and have the tables in their front yard. While you're eating you can hear the AM radio station being played by a seemingly old radio at the same time you can enjoy watching their plants in the other side of the yard and some fishes in different pots. Of course the old couple are also very friendly. As observed, the Thais are quite as friendly as the Filipinos and I can observe that they're basically the same in terms of dealing with neighbors.

Today was kinda different one for me, in the past days I used to sit facing the other yard but I had the other direction today, not by choice though but availability. As I had my soup and spicy pork dish I noticed this one very thing hanging on the post.

It's a normal calendar with marks on it. The couple I supposed the man marked the finish dates making one find it easier to distinguish the exact date of the day. I am amazed seeing the marker tied right in front of the calendar. On one hand, I realized that it's not getting interesting for me to check the dates anymore these times. I used to have major plans for this year and sadly these I have to discard. I'm an organizer person I can't live a day without checking my itineraries however, lately I start disliking looking at it. Not that I hate the calendar but I think it doesn't feel any better when I know that whatever I do, these days come to pass and in my end these are all wasted. On the other hand, I don't like pressures so I choose to go with the flow, slow down, plan things out and see how things go in the coming days.

Time flies so quickly, loving it or not, it just is.

OUTSIDE, the Bill Fight Tale

2011-07-13T16:52:00.002+07:00

This day has been eventful for me keeping track on the latest issue in the Phils. It has been days since the PCSO and the Media have been conspiring disseminating info on Phil. Bishops's charitable activities making issues on the aid funds by the government's charity agency which in fact, never an issue at all as both the church and the state work hand in hand to do programs that help the poor and.....taaaaadaaanng.!...the Senate hearing today proved that the publicity claim and spreading misinformation against our Bishops are just bunches of big and fat lies.

This certainly shows how dishonesty is tolerated in the country and media is the key role in this ill-mentality that shapes the society detestably. After all, the bottom line is MONEY and of this purpose of degrading the Church so whatever these Birth Control Advocates imposed would seemingly soak straight without the Church's opposition.

The Catholic Church condemns contraception even way back the ancient times. There were pressures before 1968 of the Church to change this doctrine like what other denominations did that made Pope Paul VI RENEWED the BAN on Birth Control in the Catholic Church through the HUMANE VITAE (of Human Life). The major reasons, yes, lots of them are in my other writings in this blog.

This Reproductive Health Bill and of abortion advocacy have been pushed in the country by various NGOs headed by the PLCPD, WGNRR, Planned Parenthood-the leading abortion provider in the US etc and even in the past, the attempts never succeeded and just this tern, of Aquino administration, this bill has been intensified as the President himself is into this Project. Perhaps of him waiting for the EU's million dollar euros and the US's million-dollar reward once this bill be passed.

However, this bill is asking for the Filipino tax money of at least, three to five billion a year. One of the reasons the general public opposes to. Why the heck the government should spend billions of pesos a year for population control when these funds can be spent in genuine human development as agricultural training, farming livestock, small-medium enterprises and the like that definitely provide jobs, income and yes, boost the Philippine economy and lowers fertility? And so the war is on in the Philippines unfortunately, initiated by these RH pushers and abortion advocates and nope, not against the people but against the Church.

They have to destroy the Church's credibility so whatever the Church's stand specifically for opposing this RH Bill would be invalidated. I can admit there's chaos in the country as these anti-Church are even using the name "Catholic" in their drive of destruction, perhaps to convince and brainwashed the weak.

The PCSO was a good show, it was great the TRUTH came out today and it proves how desperate these anti-Church are in their agenda of putting down the Catholic Bishops. And who are these people, of course those who are serving the current administration. If people can learn to at least think OUTSIDE of the box and see the country in another light and how things are being manipulated primarily by the MEDIA, all boil down to the Catholic Church's assassination plan by virtue of the Mother Church's fight against this RH Bill.

There's no way the priest, bishops and the true Catholics would turn their back to the teachings and that RH is bottoms-up and top-down NO-NO. These reproductive rights advocates including those who claim Catholics have nothing else in mind but to play the unfair game, this is outside of the context of insisting harmful and dissipated bill, isn't it?

BIRTH CONTROL is an offense

2011-06-16T18:25:00.000+07:00

It's not the first time I heard of contraception being a sin. Way back Theology classes on Morals and Sins, the issue was already discussed and had been cleared as far as the Catholic faith is concerned. The Church identifies SINS in accordance to the Holy Bible and on how they are based of erroneous and false MOTIVATIONS along with sin's adverse EFFECTS that ultimately harm any human being.

The Catholic Faith puts high value and respect for Human Life. Her rules and commandments set the very FUNDAMENTALS on the love of God, self and neighbors. This means anything that is unnatural which harms humanity is condemned.

Real Catholics believe in Family Planning and proper spacing of kids, and in a simple note if there's this desire of controlling birth, consistently one has to control and stay away of doing a thing that may cause that thing one avoids. In simple terms, if one has no intention of pregnancy then just refrain from sexual relations.

But then, this isn't what's happening with the modern society where many seems to fall an adherence and rather cling to devices which believe work as ceasing the natural body system and functions. And we all know that when anything normal is interfered with anything synthetic, they do produce side effects. Unfortunately with contraceptions, this doesn't stop at harming the person but these further do KILL the unborn.

Many would have believed as the Pharmas or contraception companies both advertise and market that artificial birth controls "prevent" but actually work later in the stages of human development which makes the supposedly "prevention" to "killing". Going back to the teachings and the Catholic dogma of giving value to human life, absolutely contraceptions are unacceptable.

Motivation wise, if there's this desire of not getting pregnant then there's no reason of doing acts that make this so. What is the difference of engaging in sexual activities when one knows she can be pregnant yet still do it, or do the act when one is definitely safe? Having the intention of not getting pregnant but still DO the act yet preventing it is different from having the intention of not getting pregnant and NOT DOING it.

Sexual intercourse is a LIFE GIVING ACTION. If a couple simply chooses not to have sex then they are not preventing any possible baby which is far different from a contracepting couple that takes the steps to contracept sexual intercourse. Choosing not to cause a baby and preventing a possible baby are never identical. This is where the motivation issue comes in and SIN is identified.

Finally, good readings can provide how people's mentality - contraceptive mentality to be specific is definitely an assault to genuine motivation. This has created major breakdowns in people's lives, families, society, and relationships. It is also to blame for murders on the youngest member of the human family. Awfully, a self-infested carnage on life's intangibles and priceless. These detrimental repercussions are of domino effects which aren't within reach as far as damaged control is concerned. It's not of losing hope, this just needs time to correct and recover.

Real birth control is self-control and this works well with the NATURAL value of discipline, sacrifice, responsibility and faith. Certainly, not the pills nor any other artificial devices.

The Family and its WHOLENESS

2011-06-08T13:42:00.019+07:00

I believe in fundamentals and how these affect a person's perspective in his concerns and doings. These fundamentals could be deadly or of love and respect for self and the rest a person deals with in his living. And if this basic is rooted in the other direction which is of lacking strength and right knowledge, it's never a surprised when time comes one gets torn apart and totally messed up.

I'm not speaking of absolute perfection, just setting things light and it is a fact that this world has its degrees of circumstances which generally we are in control affecting our decisions and our ropes when some things aren't working well.

We are born and raise in a family. Our family is the very first direction we go after and where we seek love and protection. When it is broken and crashed, it's never easy to replace these essential basics that we do get from our respective families. So true, families have their shares of ups and downs, however the love and connection we get first from our very own parents and siblings are irretrievable. This love is the foundation of our being which greatly affects how we see the world and so we accord with society (social norms) in general. It's a fact we get hurt when things go wrong yet it never concludes that these rare issues outdo the joy and fulfillment that we achieve from the very fundamental subsistence of having a family.

A family is never made of a single person. It is of different persons of distinctive roles and responsibilities. The variance makes it complete, ideal, natural and impeccable. When ruled by selfishness and pride over the needs and protection of the other members, there the problems arise. But then, greed is never permanent, it appears in weakness and lacking fundamentals of love and morals adding education on after effects and strong sensitivity to whose lives and living be affected. One can decide when these poisons of both greed and pride have to end. And the finality is never on setting people apart, but of UNITY despite the odds.

HIPPODROME – MASS ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIRST NATIONAL ENCOUNTER OF CROATIAN CATHOLIC FAMILIES Homily of the Holy Father Benedict XVI

2011-06-07T14:01:00.000+07:00

ZAGREB - 05.06.2011 - 10:00

Hippodrome

Holy Mass

Official translation

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

In this Mass at which it is my joy to preside, concelebrating with numerous brothers in the Episcopate and with a great number of priests, I give thanks to the Lord for all the beloved families gathered here, and for all the others who are linked with us through radio and television. I offer particular thanks to Cardinal Josip Bozanić, Archbishop of Zagreb, for his kind words at the beginning of this Mass. I address my greetings to all and express my great affection with an embrace of peace!

We have recently celebrated the Ascension of the Lord and we prepare ourselves to receive the great gift of the Holy Spirit. In the first reading, we saw how the apostolic community was united in prayer in the Upper Room with Mary, the mother of Jesus (cf. Acts 1:12-14). This is a picture of the Church with deep roots in the paschal event: indeed, the Upper Room is the place where Jesus instituted the Eucharist and the priesthood during the Last Supper, and where, having risen from the dead, he poured out the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on the evening of Easter Sunday (cf. Jn 20:19-23). The Lord directed his disciples “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4); he asked that they might remain together to prepare themselves to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And they gathered together in prayer with Mary in the Upper Room, waiting for the promised event (cf. Acts 1:14). Remaining together was the condition given by Jesus for them to experience the coming of the Paraclete, and prolonged prayer served to maintain them in harmony with one another. We find here a formidable lesson for every Christian community. Sometimes it is thought that missionary efficacy depends primarily upon careful planning and its intelligent implementation by means of specific action. Certainly, the Lord asks for our cooperation, but his initiative has to come first, before any response from us: his Spirit is the true protagonist of the Church, to be invoked and welcomed.

In the Gospel, we heard the first part of the so-called “high-priestly prayer” of Jesus (cf. Jn 17:1-11a) – at the

conclusion of his farewell discourses – full of trust, sweetness and love. It is called “the high-priestly prayer” because in it Jesus is presented as a priest interceding for his people as he prepares to leave this world. The passage is dominated by the double theme of the hour and the glory. It deals with the hour of death (cf. Jn 2:4; 7:30; 8:20), the hour in which the Christ must pass from this world to the Father (13:1). But at the same time it is also the hour of his glorification which is accomplished by means of the Cross, called by John the Evangelist “exaltation”, namely the raising up, the elevation to glory: the hour of the death of Jesus, the hour of supreme love, is the hour of his highest glory. For the Church too, for every Christian, the highest glory is the Cross, which means living in charity, in total gift to God and to others.

Dear brothers and sisters! I very willingly accepted the invitation given to me by the Bishops of Croatia to visit this country on the occasion of the first National Gathering of Croatian Catholic Families. I express my sincere appreciation for this attention and commitment to the family, not only because today this basic human reality, in your nation as elsewhere, has to face difficulties and threats, and thus has special need of evangelization and support, but also because Christian families are a decisive resource for education in the faith, for the up-building of the Church as a communion and for her missionary presence in the most diverse situations in life. I know the generosity and the dedication with which you, dear Pastors, serve the Lord and the Church. Your daily labour for the faith formation of future generations, as well as for marriage preparation and for the accompaniment of families, is the fundamental path for regenerating the Church anew and for giving life to the social fabric of the nation. May you remain dedicated to this important pastoral commitment!

Everyone knows that the Christian family is a special sign of the presence and love of Christ and that it is called to give a specific and irreplaceable contribution to evangelization. Blessed John Paul II, who visited this noble country three times, said that “the Christian family is called upon to take part actively and responsibly in the mission of the Church in a way that is original and specific, by placing itself, in what it is and what it does as an ‘intimate community of life and love’, at the service of the Church and of society” (Familiaris consortio, 50). The Christian family has always been the first way of transmitting the faith and still today retains great possibilities for evangelization in many areas.

Dear parents, commit yourselves always to teach your children to pray, and pray with them; draw them close to the Sacraments, especially to the Eucharist, as we celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Eucharistic miracle of Ludbreg; and introduce them to the life of the Church; in the intimacy of the home do not be afraid to read the sacred Scriptures, illuminating family life with the light of faith and praising God as Father. Be like a little Upper Room, like that of Mary and the disciples, in which to live unity, communion and prayer!

By the grace of God, many Christian families today are acquiring an ever deeper awareness of their missionary vocation, and are devoting themselves seriously to bearing witness to Christ the Lord. Blessed John Paul II once said: “An authentic family, founded on marriage, is in itself ‘good news’ for the world.” And he added: “In our time the families that collaborate actively in evangelization are ever more numerous [...] the hour of the family has arrived in the Church, which is also the hour of the missionary family” (Angelus, 21 October 2001). In today’s society the presence of exemplary Christian families is more necessary and urgent than ever. Unfortunately, we are forced to acknowledge the spread of a secularization which leads to the exclusion of God from life and the increasing disintegration of the family, especially in Europe. Freedom without commitment to the truth is made into an absolute, and individual well-being through the consumption of material goods and transient experiences is cultivated as an ideal, obscuring the quality of interpersonal relations and deeper human values; love is reduced to sentimental emotion and to the gratification of instinctive impulses, without a commitment to build lasting bonds of reciprocal belonging and without openness to life. We are called to oppose such a mentality! Alongside what the Church says, the testimony and commitment of the Christian family – your concrete testimony – is very important, especially when you affirm the inviolability of human life from conception until natural death, the singular and irreplaceable value of the family founded upon matrimony and the need for legislation which supports families in the task of giving birth to children and educating them. Dear families, be courageous! Do not give in to that secularized mentality which proposes living together as a preparation, or even a substitute for marriage! Show by the witness of your lives that it is possible, like Christ, to love without reserve, and do not be afraid to make a commitment to another person! Dear families, rejoice in fatherhood and motherhood! Openness to life is a sign of openness to the future, confidence in the future, just as respect for the natural moral law frees people, rather than demeaning them! The good of the family is also the good of the Church. I would like to repeat something I have said in the past: “the edification of each individual Christian family fits into the context of the larger family of the Church which supports it and carries it with her And the Church is reciprocally built up by the family, a ‘small domestic church’” (Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI ... to the Participants in the Ecclesial Diocesan Convention of Rome, 6 June 2005). Let us pray to the Lord, that families may come more and more to be small churches and that ecclesial communities may take on more and more the quality of a family!

Dear Croatian families, living the communion of faith and charity, be ever more transparent witnesses to the

promise that the Lord, ascending into heaven, makes to each one of us: “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20). Dear Croatian Christians, hear yourselves called to evangelize with the whole of your life; hear the powerful word of the Lord: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). May the Virgin Mary, Queen of Croatia, accompany you always on your way. Amen! Praised be Jesus and Mary!

http://www.papa.hr/images/stories/PDF/Govori/04a-02.pdf

Pope Benedict XVI to FAMILIES: Be BRAVE and Open to LIFE.

2011-06-07T13:28:00.000+07:00

In the homily during the Mass on the occasion of the First National Encounter of Croatian Catholic Families, celebrated on the second day of the apostolic visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Croatia, June 5, the Holy Father urged the family to resist the secular mentality "which leads to the exclusion of God from life and the increasing disintegration of the family." Observing that the family today "has to face difficulties and threats," the Pope urged families to commit themselves to teaching children to pray, and pray with them; draw them close to the Sacraments... and read the sacred Scriptures..., be like a little Upper Room, like that of Mary and the disciples, in which to live unity, communion and prayer!"

At the beginning of the homily, greeting all the families gathered at the Hippodrome, and all others linked through radio and television, the Pope said that he had very willingly accepted the invitation of the Croatian bishops to visit Croatia on the occasion of the National Encounter of Croatian Catholic Families. He added that he also expressed "sincere appreciation for this attention and commitment to the family." This "this basic human reality, in your nation as elsewhere, has to face difficulties and threats, and thus has special need of evangelization and support, but also because Christian families are a decisive resource for education in the faith, for the up-building of the Church as a communion and for her missionary presence in the most diverse situations in life."

"Everyone knows," continued the Pope, in his reflections on the family, during which on two occasions he cited his predecessor to the cathedra of Peter, the Blessed John Paul II, "that the Christian family is a special sign of the presence and love of Christ and that it is called to give a specific and irreplaceable contribution to evangelization…The Christian family has always been the first way of transmitting the faith and still today retains great possibilities for evangelization in many areas." The Pope then addressed a powerful appeal to families: "Dear parents, commit yourselves always to teach your children to pray, and pray with them; draw them close to the Sacraments, especially to the Eucharist… and introduce them to the life of the Church; in the intimacy of the home do not be afraid to read the sacred Scriptures, illuminating family life with the light of faith and praising God as Father. Be like a little Upper Room, like that of Mary and the disciples, in which to live unity, communion and prayer.

"By the grace of God, many Christian families today are acquiring an ever deeper awareness of their missionary vocation, and are devoting themselves seriously to bearing witness to Christ the Lord… In today's society the presence of exemplary Christian families is more necessary and urgent than ever. Unfortunately, we are forced to acknowledge the spread of a secularization, which leads to the exclusion of God from life and the increasing disintegration of the family, especially in Europe. Freedom without commitment to the truth is made into an absolute, and individual well-being through the consumption of material goods and transient experiences is cultivated as an ideal, obscuring the quality of interpersonal relations and deeper human values; love is reduced to sentimental emotion and to the gratification of instinctive impulses, without a commitment to build lasting bonds of reciprocal belonging and without openness to life. We are called to oppose such a mentality! Alongside what the Church says, the testimony and commitment of the Christian family – your concrete testimony – is very important, especially when you affirm the inviolability of human life from conception until natural death, the singular and irreplaceable value of the family founded upon matrimony and the need for legislation which supports families in the task of giving birth to children and educating them," said the Pope in his homily at the Mass on the occasion of the First Encounter of Croatian Catholic Families.

"Dear families, be courageous! Do not give in to that secularized mentality which proposes living together as a preparation, or even a substitute for marriage! Show by the witness of your lives that it is possible, like Christ, to love without reserve, and do not be afraid to make a commitment to another person! Dear families, rejoice in fatherhood and motherhood! Openness to life is a sign of openness to the future, confidence in the future, just as respect for the natural moral law frees people, rather than demeaning them! The good of the family is also the good of the Church.… Let us pray to the Lord, that families may come more and more to be small churches and that ecclesial communities may take on more and more the quality of a family!" said Pope Benedict XVI. In conclusion, the Holy Family urged Croatian families to live "the communion of faith and charity, and to hear themselves called to evangelize with the whole of their lives.

http://www.papa.hr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1589:pope-dear-families-be-courageous&catid=86:news&Itemid=660