Respected poll shows more Americans rejecting "right" to abortion in 2009

Signs of hope - a continued trend towards the pro-life position in our country - public support for abortion has dropped 11% since the same time last year:

Polls conducted in 2009 have found fewer Americans expressing support for abortion than in previous years. In Pew Research Center polls in 2007 and 2008, supporters of legal abortion clearly outnumbered opponents; now Americans are evenly divided on the question, and there have been modest increases in the numbers who favor reducing abortions or making them harder to obtain. Less support for abortion is evident among most demographic and political groups.

The latest Pew Research Center survey also reveals that the abortion debate has receded in importance, especially among liberals. At the same time, opposition to abortion has grown more firm among conservatives, who have become less supportive of finding a middle ground on the issue and more certain of the correctness of their own views on abortion. (Pew Forum)

The Obama tie-in:

The timing of this shift in attitudes on abortion suggests it could be connected to Obama's election. The decline in support for legal abortion first appeared in polls in the spring of 2009. Overall, roughly three-in-ten (29%) think Obama will handle the abortion issue about right as president. One-in-five Americans (19%) worry that Obama will go too far in supporting abortion rights, while very few (4%) express the opposite concern that Obama will not go far enough to support abortion rights.

Opposition to abortion remains connected to how serious people take their faith:

"...most people who regularly attend religious services continue to come down in opposition to abortion, while the large majority of those who rarely or never attend religious services still support legal abortion."

By the way, "regularly attend" typically translates in these polls to "attends weekly." In other words, people who merely attend Mass or Christian services *once* a week are far more likely to be pro-life.

Some amazing points are also made:

The poll finds that four-in-ten Americans are unaware of Obama's position on the abortion issue. Conservative Republicans, however, are more likely than any other group to know Obama's position, with 75% correctly identifying him as "pro-choice" rather than "pro-life."

It's stunning to me that 40% of Americans don't even know about Obama's position on abortion, and that 25% of Republicans evidently don't know he is pro-abortion.

Clearly, those of us in the pro-life movement have a great opportunity here for continuing to educate our fellow Americans about the issue of abortion, and Obama's radical position on it.

Good: Senate Finance Committee Restores $50m in Abstinence Education Funding

Thanks in small (yet significant) part to those of you who took part in the APP effort of last week to support Title V funding for abstinence education - the Senate Finance Committee came through and, by the narrowest margin, made the right call!

In a late Tuesday vote, members of the Senate Finance Committee narrowly approved an amendment to restore some of the abstinence education funds President Barack Obama and abortion advocates in Congress have removed from budget bills.

Sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, the amendment reinstates $50 million a year in abstinence funding through Title V state block grant programs.

Hatch hailed the vote, which saw members of the panel vote 12-11 for his amendment.

... “It is encouraging that the hard work of grassroots constituencies from across the country have prevailed to ensure these common-sense programs will continue,” said Valerie Huber, executive director of NAEA.

Huber told LifeNews.com that the amendment will still need a floor vote in the Senate, so her organization's job of promoting abstinence funding continues. (LifeNews)

President Obama had removed the abstinence education funding in his budget proposal.

Surprise, surprise.

Important: Side-by-side changes to the Mass in English

Deo gratias!

The US Bishops have released a super-useful side-by-side comparison of the current (imperfect) translation of the Mass in English with the new (perfected) version of the Mass in English. They include a PDF version that you can print out. 

It would be good to begin discussing the changes now with your friends and parishioners to prepare for the transition! Maybe host an evening where people can read through the new version together and discuss the significance of the changes. Remember: all that's happened, fundamentally, is that the English translation now accurately reflects the Latin original of the Mass texts.

A taste:

Priest: "The Lord be with you."
People: "And with Your Spirit."

Ah, now that's the kind of change I like.

Hope: Record Aggie Vocations

Sorry to post back-to-back disturbing stories, let's not forget that God is always at work and mercifully bestowing His grace to us. Sometimes this takes a concrete manifestation in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, as it happening in "Aggie Catholics" neck of the woods.

How are vocations doing in your parish, community and diocese? Let's share our stories!

Study: Young Nuns and Priests are more traditional

Signs of hope (doubly necessary on a Monday):

A new study of Roman Catholic nuns and priests in the United States shows that an aging, predominantly white generation is being succeeded by a smaller group of more racially and ethnically diverse recruits who are attracted to the religious orders that practice traditional prayer rituals and wear habits.

.... The new study, being released on Tuesday, was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, for the National Religious Vocation Conference, which is looking for ways for the church to attract and retain new nuns and priests. It was financed by an anonymous donor.

“We’ve heard anecdotally that the youngest people coming to religious life are distinctive, and they really are,” said Sister Mary Bendyna, executive director of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. “They’re more attracted to a traditional style of religious life, where there is community living, common prayer, having Mass together, praying the Liturgy of the Hours together. They are much more likely to say fidelity to the church is important to them. And they really are looking for communities where members wear habits.”

More from the New York Times.

And lest we forget, "traditional" is often just a fancy way of describing someone who believes what the Church teaches.

In Boston, billboards announce the return of perpetual adoration

For the first time in 40 years, no less:

"To see the image of God in Boston, a passerby need only look up.

Two billboards featuring the Eucharist displayed in a monstrance tower over the streets in Brighton and East Boston. The words under the image read, “The Son’s rays for your soul.”

These advertisements are meant to get the word out about the return of perpetual adoration to Boston after a 40-year absence. St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine on Boylston Street will mark the start of adoration with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley on Aug. 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption.

From then on, the Eucharist will be exposed in a monstrance all day, every day, apart from regularly scheduled Mass times. - Boston Pilot

Graphic: More americans pro-life than pro-choice for first time

This is a picture of hope:

Gallup:

A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion and 42% "pro-choice." This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.

Now look at this line:

It is possible that, through his abortion policies, Obama has pushed the public's understanding of what it means to be "pro-choice" slightly to the left, politically. While Democrats may support that, as they generally support everything Obama is doing as president, it may be driving others in the opposite direction.

Let's hope opinion catches up to voting.

I will be updating this post soon, but wanted to have this out there ASAP.

Update with related links:

• SBA: Obama and Congress on Collision Course with Public Opinion on Abortion
• LifeNews: Majority of Americans Pro-Life on Abortion, Highest Levels in 15 Years

Pew Center: Only 46% of Americans believe abortion should be legal

A new poll by the Pew Research Center released today:

The proportion saying that abortion should be legal in all or most cases has declined to 46% from 54% last August. The decline in support for legal abortion has come entirely in the share saying abortion should be legal in most cases (from 37% to 28%); 18% say abortion should be legal in all cases, which is virtually unchanged from last August (17%). Currently, 44% say abortion should be illegal in most (28%) or all cases (16%), up slightly since last August (41%).

What has caused the change? My guess: people who have been made aware of what partial birth abortion is cannot tolerate it. I'd be interesting to see how many people learned about partial birth abortion during the election cycle when pro-life groups began bringing up the point that Obama supports it. There still remains a small minority (18%) who are abortion absolutists, and a small minority (16%) who are completely pro-life. But now only 28% of people say abortion should be legal in "most cases" - down from 37%! What do you think has caused this change?

Do note this: the poll claims 46% of Americans support abortion in some or all cases, while 44% oppose it in some or all cases. This means that the claim "American is a pro-choice country" is simply false. America is a deeply-divided country about this issue. Within the margin of error, in fact. Belief in abortion is far from "common" sense. It is not commonly held. This means that Obama's position on abortion only identifies him with 18% of the American people.

Pew has more details on the poll here, once you scroll down the page.

{update: Life News tells us these are the lowest abortion support stats in 15 years.}

150,000 to join Catholic Church in the U.S. this Easter!

Praise God!

As many as 150,000 new or returning Catholics are expected to join the Catholic Church in 2009 in the United States. Many of them will do so at the Easter Vigil liturgies, April 11, in parishes across the country.

In some cases the numbers show the growth and vitality of the Catholic Church in places where it has traditionally been a small minority. For instance, the Archdiocese of Atlanta estimates that 513 catechumens and 2,195 candidates will join the ranks of the Archdiocese in 2009. About 1,800 of them will do so at Easter. These numbers do not include infant baptisms, which are recorded separately. [More from the USCCB press release.] [Partial listing of numbers-by-diocese here.]

In comparison, about 135,000 people came into full communion in 2008.

One of this year's American converts will be present in Rome for Easter (CNA):

At St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, California resident Heidi Sierras will represent North America at the Easter Vigil, where she will be baptized by Pope Benedict XVI.

Let's keep these Catechumens especially in our prayers during the last days of Lent and Triduum.

Bishop Loverde personally delivers 200k pro-life postcards to Congress

This is something I love to see: a bishop going the extra mile, even if it means going outside the box.

Or in this case, a bishop going a few miles, across the Potomac!

Diocese of Arlington Director of Communications Joelle Santolla explains:

This Thursday Bishop Loverde delivered our anti-FOCA postcards by hand to the offices of Senators Webb and Warner.

He was told how much weight comes with a personal visit to a lawmaker, and knowing how detrimental FOCA and its other iterations would be, he wanted to have a chance to speak directly with our representatives to convey the seriousness of these issues ... taking with him nearly 200,000 post cards [pictured left].

He ended up talking about FOCA, the Conscience Clause and abortion (he met with Sen. James Webb and spoke with a policy representative from Warner’s office as well).

The Arlington Catholic Herald has a full article on the story. [photo credit: Dave Borowski]

Bishop Loverde has given us a fine example of using one's episcopal station to help the plight of the unborn.

update - a few more details from Joelle:

Sister Clare Hunter, who accompanied the Bishop, said that both offices were very welcoming and respectful of Bishop Loverde, and both extended the invitation to return for further discussion.

Bishop said, "These visits make absolutely clear our grave concerns about these issues and our firm and committed determination to protect life from conception to natural death. I welcome future opportunities to make our position clear and, in fact, will seek them out."

"Baby Boom with Patriarch Promise to Personally Baptize Babies #3+"

I like ending the news week on a high note. It doesn't get much better than this:

The head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Ilia II, came up with an astonishingly successful incentive to counteract the country's plummeting birth rate.

He promised to personally baptize any baby born to parents of more than two children.

The BBC reported that the results have been, in the words of the Georgian Orthodox Church, "a miracle," with the country's birth rate increasing by nearly 20% during 2008 - a rate four times faster than the previous year.

While Georgia was under the domination of the former Soviet Union, the Orthodox religion was all but suppressed in the country, but now the BBC reports that the Patriarch plays a very influential role in Georgian society, with many seeing him as the most authoritative figure in their lives. (LifeSite)

Imagine if American Bishops made that same promise to families in their diocese?

Jesuit Catholic U. drops abortion referral service

A piece of happy news from Valerie Schmalz at OSV:

"Following OSV's report in December that the Jesuit University of San Francisco's student health clinic was providing abortion and contraception referrals for students, USF has crafted a new protocol for the clinic that is consonant with the Church's stance on life issues. The USF student clinic staff will now refer students to First Resort, a crisis pregnancy organization; the Gabriel Project, a pregnancy support organization run by the university's St. Ignatius Parish; and Catholic Charities counseling facilities."

Just a reminder that abuses we bring attention to and take action on ... can be and do get resolved.

Interview with Dome Designer of the National Shrine

Some news on the home-front, but significant for the Church in America.

See the dome which is empty? The picture doesn't show it well - but it's by far the largest in the church. It is the last and final internal beautification project of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

Local blogger William Newton interviews one of the CUA students competing to design it:

Ryan and his colleague, John-Paul Mikolajczyk, gained national attention for the liturgical furniture they designed, which was used by Pope Benedict XVI for the Papal Mass here in Nationals Stadium last April. Ryan is currently pursuing graduate studies in architecture at Catholic University of America.

Ryan and JP were recently short-listed as one of four entry finalists in a student competition for the conceptual design of the interior of the Trinity Dome of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception here in Washington, D.C. Images of their submission appear at the end of this interview. The Shrine, which was named a minor basilica in 1990, is the largest church in the Western Hemisphere. The enormous central Trinity dome remains unfinished on the interior of the church and is the subject of this competition, which will be decided on March 23rd.

[Read the interview and scroll down to the bottom for pictures of their proposal.]

The Dome Competition has its own page on the Catholic University of America website.

[Photo credit: mbell1975]

Pictures: Dedication of Magnificent Thomas Aquinas College Chapel

One photo begins to tell the story:

Good heavens that's a gorgeous sight!

More from eyewitness AmP reader James Layne (photograph credit - Tommy Duffy):

[There was a] Solemn High Mass offered at Thomas Aquinas College after the dedication of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. There is a picture also of the dedication Mass (Coutesy of Thomas Aquinas College), as well as a link to find more pictures of that Mass. Saturday the dedication Mass was offered and Sunday a Solemn High Mass was offered by Father John Berg, Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter with Bishop Cordileone in Choir. The 11 a.m. Ordinary Form Mass was offered by Bishop Cordileone liturgically ad orientem (facing the altar) in Latin. [More on his blog, Faithful Rebel.]

What an honor to have new Churches of such beauty dedicated to the glory of God on our shores!

Boston Globe mentions AmP

In the February 12th edition:

"A variety of conservative Catholic bloggers are suddenly thrilled with an institution they often deride. "Hope for Boston College," was the headline used by Kelly Clark, who blogs under the name "The Lady in the Pew." And Thomas Peters, who blogs as "the American Papist," wrote "Catholic stuff in a Catholic school?! What a radical concept . . . Now wait for the protest." - Michael Paulson, "Catholic symbols stir diverse feelings at BC" (Paulson explores the topic further on his blog, Articles of Faith.)

There has been a protest, in fact. Has anyone heard more?

update: "Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston is praising Boston College's president, the Rev. William P. Leahy, for the installation of crucifixes and Christian icons in all of the Jesuit university's classrooms." [More.]

CNS: Boston College Places Crucifixes and Icons in Classrooms

Catholic stuff in a Catholic school?! What a radical concept:

Students and faculty returned to Boston College (BC), a Jesuit Catholic institution, for the Spring 2009 semester to find that crucifixes and icons had been placed in many classrooms that had been long bereft of sacred art. This move, which helps strengthen the university’s Catholic identity, came by direct request of President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., according to a campus newspaper editor.

“Bravo for Boston College!” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. “For Catholics, outward signs, symbols and practices of our faith are an important part of relating to God in a material world.” (Cardinal Newman Society)

... now wait for the protest. :-/

update: I hate being right: "BC Professors Protest Crucifixes: Professors Threaten Resignation Over the Placement of Crucifixes in Classrooms." Page 2 is available online here (PDF format).

Ph/t: AmP reader M.P.

Breaking: Vatican report on US Seminaries released

CNS is first to press:

An apostolic visitation team concluded that U.S. Catholic seminaries and houses of priestly formation are generally healthy, but recommended a stronger focus on moral theology, increased oversight of seminarians and greater involvement of diocesan bishops in the formation process."

This visitation has demonstrated that, since the 1990s, a greater sense of stability now prevails in the U.S. seminaries," the report said. "The appointment, over time, of rectors who are wise and faithful to the church has meant a gradual improvement, at least in the diocesan seminaries."

The report, sparked by the sexual abuse crisis that hit the U.S. church, concluded that seminaries appeared to have made improvements in the area of seminarian morality, most notably with regard to homosexual behavior.

"Of course, here and there some case or other of immorality -- again, usually homosexual behavior -- continues to show up," the report said. "However, in the main, the superiors now deal with these issues promptly and appropriately."

The report was dated Dec. 15 and signed by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, head of the Congregation for Catholic Education, which deals with seminaries. It was published on the Web site of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to coincide with National Vocation Awareness Week, which began Jan. 12.

You can read the entire report here online (warning: PDF file).

The Catholic Key has early, and helpful commentary.

15 sedevacantist nuns rejoin the Catholic Church

Tales of hope ought to be widely told:

Last July, 15 nuns from a schismatic convent in Washington state rejoined the Catholic Church. They left the motherhouse of the Religious Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI), located on the outskirts of Spokane, to form a new congregation: the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church. They formally renounced their state of schism, made a profession of the Catholic faith, became a private association of the faithful under the care of Spokane Bishop William Skylstad, and recognized the legitimacy of the popes from Paul VI through Benedict XVI.

Their former order, which still has approximately 35 sisters, holds to the sedevacantist position that popes elected since John XXIII are invalid and that Vatican II was a heretical council.

Welcome home.

Pro-God ad campaign responds to DC secularists

'Tis the season... for competing ad campaigns.

A couple weeks ago I posted a picture of the "why believe in a god?" campaign that is running on DC buses.

CNA reports that the Center for Family Development has decided to respond with a counter-campaign.

You can see the ad image here. They also have a Facebook page and are taking donations.

Are pro-life dems making a "breakthrough"?

Tom McFeely has a most intersting post on NCRegister.com, my comments in bold:

Let’s face it, there weren’t very many pro-life silver linings among the electoral clouds that formed Tuesday evening over America. Agreed.

But here’s one: A record 31 Democratic Party pro-life candidates were elected to Congress.

According to Democrats for Life of America, five new Democratic pro-lifers were elected, joining 26 pro-life incumbents who were re-elected. Out of 58 total.

“This will be only the second time in 30 years that the number of pro-life Democrats increases instead of decreases,” Kristen Day, director of Democrats for Life of America, told Lifenews.com. “The first time we made gains was in 2006 due to the work of pro-life Democrats all over this country advocating on behalf of the pro-life cause.” DLA, not to be confused with "Catholic Democrats" - a front group

The first task confronting Congressional pro-lifers from both parties in the next Congress? Forging bipartisan alliances across the aisles of the Senate and the House of Representatives to prevent passage of the abortion lobby’s Freedom of Choice (FOCA) legislation. Most important, and some small encouragement.

I've said it before, "pro-life" and "democrat" can be a powerfully appealing combination to a Catholic. It's clear to me I need to learn more about Democrats for Life of America. What I've seen so far, I mostly like (i.e., "Pro-Life Is The Winning Strategy For Democrats", etc). Other things they have said, while I don't agree with entirely, are certainly far better than what we are used to hearing.

I know I would love to support pro-life candidates within the democrat party. After all, contrary to what you may hear, pro-life is not a partisan issue. The goal of true pro-life advocates is not to see republicans win, but to see human life preserved across party lines.

Sadly, it appears that the democrat party's leadership remains strongly committed to abortion rights, as is evident from their most recent party platform. What will it take to make these higher-ups realize that they need not be the "party of death", to quote the phrase of an archbishop?

Maybe Catholics electing more pro-life Democrats.

Words of hope from today's Mass texts

Excerpts....

First reading:

" ... work out your salvation with fear and trembling ... Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life ..."

Responsorial psalm:

"The LORD is my light and my salvation;whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?"

Gospel:

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple ... everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."

"Sophia" at Metaphysical Musings provides us with a reflection.

On supporting one another in pursuit of the good and true

Doing the right thing often isn't easy.

Bishop Robert Vasa, in his most recent column, tells us one way that he is encouraged:

It might be a perception that my boldness regarding pro-abortion politicians is courageous but in truth I only follow the lead of those who exemplify a boldness far greater than my own. The bold speaking out on the part of Archbishop Raymond Burke regarding the contentious issue of Catholic pro-abortion politicians and Holy communion emboldens cowards like me to follow his example. The firm and measured response of Cardinal Egan and a variety of other Archbishops and Bishops to misleading statements of the Speaker of the House emboldens others, like myself, to shake off the shackles of fear and to stand with them.

Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, on Comending the Bishops:

Faithful Catholics in the US have been both stunned and gratified by the recent show of episcopal strength in dealing with the heretical nonsense of “Catholics” in public life who clearly misrepresent the Church’s teaching on vital issues.

... The trend is truly heartening. Let’s pray that it continues! Much more could be done, of course, but I am grateful that more bishops are standing up to strengthen and protect the faith of millions.

... [I would mention] the strong pro-life stances of Archbishops Burke (now in Rome) and Chaput (Denver) as well as Bishops Vasa (Baker, OR), Farrell and Vann (Dallas, TX), Martino (Scranton, PA) and Mallooly (Wilmington, DE) who are representatives of a group of other bishops who have made their voices heard forcefully on the Catholic voting issue.

... Thankfully, there are many more examples of episcopal courage that we could add to the reflections but suffice it to say that there seems to be a new wind blowing through the College of Bishops all around the world these days.

... We also need to thank them personally when they speak out in order to encourage them to do even more! Now that the example has been set, let us hope that other bishops and priests will have the audacity of our hope in Christ to go out and do the same!

What they said.

One pharmacy says no to birth control ...

... and the world doesn't explode:

A new drug store at a Virginia strip mall is putting its faith in an unconventional business plan: No candy. No sodas. And no birth control. Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy is among at least seven pharmacies across the nation that are refusing as a matter of faith to sell contraceptives of any kind, even if a person has a prescription.

States across the country have been wrestling with the issue of pharmacists who refuse on religious grounds to dispense birth control or morning-after pills, and some have enacted laws requiring drug stores to fill the prescriptions.

In Virginia, though, pharmacists can turn away any prescription for any reason. (AP)

On Tuesday, the little pharmacy that could received a blessing from Arlington bishop Paul Loverde.

What seminarians are reading: "Hidden Enemies of the Priesthood"

The author, I'm proud to say, is a teacher of mine.

From the Dominican Friars blog:

"If you want to know what seminarians are reading in their spare time these days, one needs to look at a book by Fr. Basil Cole, O.P. — a professor of Moral and Spiritual Theology at the Dominican House of Studies. His recent book The Hidden Enemies of the Priesthood has become something of a rage among seminarians around the country.

Recently, when preaching a retreat for seminarians from all over the country, Fr. Basil learned that many of them were not only reading but recommending to each other his book. He later learned that the former Archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, purchased and distributed copies for every seminarian in his Archdiocese. The publisher’s first printing of the book ran out some time ago, and it seems the second will do the same. In addition, Dr. Jeff Mirus of CatholicCulture.org gave a very favorable review of the book."

Br. James Brent, OP conducted a helpful interview with Fr. Cole, which I recommend reading. A sample:

What are some of the enemies of the priesthood that you discuss in the book?

Fr. Basil: Two major enemies come to mind: ignorance of the dignity of the gift of priesthood, and pride as the queen of the seven capital vices. Most spiritual authors and the Catechism of the Catholic Church teach there are only seven capital vices. Thomas teaches that the seven are lieutenants of the queen. Ignorance of the Queen as the “anti-form” (my terminology) of the vices tends to obscure the deepest enemy of the priest. He may think one or other is his problem but the real problem for all is pride, which governs as it were the other vices.

What are some of the remedies for these ills that you discuss?

Fr. Basil: Contemplation, humility, the prayer of petition done with humility, patience and persistence,together with mercy toward one’s peers and formators.

Read up, young men, and be assured of our prayers!

On Hope in these (and all) times

Stefan McDaniel of First Things with the bon mot of the day:

No one should trivialize the current economic crisis, which poses a real threat to the well-being of people around the world. But “crisis” quickly moves from being an unpleasant fact that we must face to a poisonous climate of anxiety that we breathe. In order to maintain perspective, I’ve shut myself off from the unremitting commentary, speculation and polemic generated (especially in the blogosphere) and turned to the writings of Benedict XVI.

As far as I know, Benedict has not said much about our present troubles, but in The Yes Of Jesus Christ he suggests that the periods of intense panic that occasionally wash over us are symptoms of the godless modern worldview.

... At moments of crisis like this, when it seems our god has failed, we sharply and suddenly lose our modern “hope.” Benedict writes:

Optimism is only the facade of a world without hope that is trying to hide from its own despair with this deceptive sham. This is the only explanation for the immoderate and irrational anxiety, this traumatic and violent fear that breaks out when some setback or accident in technological or economic development casts doubt on the dogma of progress.

Doubt is very much in the air. If, heaven forbid, things get much worse, we will see whether it is in God or in Western prosperity that we have really placed our trust.

Hope: always needful.

Want to know why? Two headlines:

• WaMu Fails, Is Sold Off to J.P. Morgan - Biggest Banking Collapse in U.S. History; Government Arranges a Deal to Safeguard Huge Thrift's Deposits, Branches
• AP: Bailout deal stalls as Republican lawmakers revolt

"Papal visit triggers “tsunami” of New York seminary applications"

The good kind of tsunami:

St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, New York, has received dozens of applications following Pope Benedict’s visit, the New York Daily News reports.

"It's been like a tsunami, a good tsunami of interest," said Father Luke Sweeney, the Archdiocese of New York's vocations director. “I've been meeting people all week and have a lot of e-mails I haven't had the chance yet to respond to. It has been incredible.”

The dire side:

For the first time in 108 years, the seminary had been preparing for a year with no students. Only 23 seminarians are expected to be ordained for New York City over the next four years. A study carried out by Catholic World Report claims the archdiocese’s ratio of priests to congregation members is among the worst in the country.

Hope:

“We were hoping the Pope would convince many who were considering the priesthood to make the next step. It looks like he did,” he said

“One said he came, saw the crowd, heard what the Pope said and then called us," the priest said. "He said his questions and concerns were answered when he heard him speak.”

Let's all pray for these brave young men.

"De-Christianization of Europe is reversible," says Cardinal - but is it probable?

"During a speech at the Saint-Louis of France cultural center in Rome, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, said that the de-Christianization of Europe is dramatic and accelerated, but it is not irreversible."
- Catholic News Agency

Yes, but in this case, is a reversal of the dramatic and accelerated de-Christianization of Europe probable?

If you're looking for signs of hope, look to the Grotto of Lourdes, which celebrates its 150th anniversary today.

But I wonder, what will things look like 150 years from now? Isn't it time to prepare for "demographic winter"?

Let's not forget, the Pope's new encyclical - this Friday!

That's right. "Spe Salvi" will be published this Friday (morning, for those of us in the United States).

Jimmy Akin observes:

It is also notable that [Pope Benedict] is doing the theological virtues in the reverse order that they are normally given in. This may be a deliberate strategy on his part to play against the stereotype of him as a stern doctrinal enforcer.

What I'm particularly struck by, though, is the claim that the new encyclical will be signed and released the same day. To my mind, that's the way it ought to be, though so often the Holy See will sign something and then not release it for a long time. I haven't followed lately how often they've been doing that, but if there's a move to sign and release the same day, that's a good thing.

I'll be posting the links as soon as it is made available on Friday. It will probably be posted here.

Looks like I've already got my weekend reading lined up!

Keep your eye on Bobby Jindal, new Gov. of Louisiana

CNA reports:

U.S. Representative Bobby Jindal has won the Louisiana gubernatorial election to become the nation's youngest governor and the first non-white to hold the governorship in Louisiana since Reconstruction. The governor-elect also is a strong Catholic who has authored pamphlets on Catholicism that have drawn the ire of some Protestants.

....Jindal converted from Hinduism to Catholicism in his teens. His faith became an issue in the campaign when opponents launched an advertisement misrepresenting some of his essays explaining his view of Protestantism. The advertising effort tried to stir up anti-Catholic sentiment by focusing on heavily Protestant areas of the state.

Stephen Braunlich does a good job of quickly introducing the reasons to like him. His wiki page adds more background. This was the same guy who back in August was the target of dirty anti-Catholic ads created by Louisiana democrats. Well, today, it's nothing but praise from the AP, WashTimes and even the NYT. Score.