As part of a nationwide series of demonstrations coordinated by World Can’t Wait, there will be a day-long peace demonstration at Worcester’s Elm Park on Oct 5.
People will be demonstrating 9am-8pm at the corner of Highland and Park Ave.
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Worcester cops Nobel action: Congrats, Craig C. Mello.
Villani cops Slate action: Slate notes Adam Neil Villani’s post about his middle namesake, Neil Armstrong.
Scott in the news: 800 people gathered for an anti-war rally in Concord, New Hampshire, last week. One of the speakers was Worcester’s Scott Schaeffer-Duffy, who had a good quote in the AP article:
“We’re made to think that nonviolence is some sentimental gift,” said keynote speaker Scott Schaefer-Duffy [sic], co-director of the St. Francis and St. Theresa [sic] Catholic Worker House in Worcester, Mass. “Being nonviolent is strong not weak,” he said.
Warcast #4: Conscientious objection, Marinus, and the sword
Another installment of the Catholic Peace Fellowship’s Warcast.
[download the mp3 of “Warcast for Catholics #4]
- Patrick McGowan talks about Matthew 10:34. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.”
- Mike Griffin and conscientious objector Joshua Casteel discuss some of the issues to consider when applying for CO status.
- Mike Schorsch talks about the soldier-martyr Marinus.
A letter from Darfur
Dear Brenna
Greetings to you!
I would like to thank you for the money ($325) which you sent to us trhough Mr Ezibon. I have received the money and it was immediately used to buy exercises books for children in Comboni Taiba School which is a traning centre for the displaced teenagers boys. We have now 146 boys in that school…They are receiving a basic literacy course…We would like also to give them a Vocational Training in Welding, electricity and Arts if possible…Our Women Promotion Group is also going well… Now we have a Women Literacy Programm going on with about 150 Women in three different centres within Nyala town. There is also a progamm of in-come generating project… If you could help us to help these women, it will be great!
Thank you very much and best wishes!
Fr. Denima“Tout est bien qui fini bien!”
P. DENIMA DARAMA EMMANUEL
If you’re interested in making a donation to Fr Denima, contact Brenna Cussen.
Me and Fr. Denima, who helped start a women’s economic
cooperative at the church. December, 2004.
Saint Kermit #41: Healthy Activism
Netcasting from my friends’ home office
Another week, another amazing episode of Saint Kermit.
[download the mp3 of “Saint Kermit #41:Healthy Activism”]
Rant topics:
- Worcester Public Library changes lending policy
- Kevin Ksen arrested, “COPS” kicked out of Worcester
- Globe calls for two-party debates. “Voters will definitely be best served if the next debate is for contenders only.”
Guest: Maine governor candidate Pat LaMarche.
Music: Rod Murphy.
Sports: Sports.
Pat LaMarche accepts the Green Party nomination for Vice President, 2004. Photo by Mike Benedetti.
Report: Worcester neighborhood likes “group homes”
Professor Corey Dolgon and some of his Worcester State College students have studied a Worcester neighborhood that’s home to several social service programs, and found that the people there are supportive of these facilities.
(Read the “Mending Fences” report.)
Continue reading “Report: Worcester neighborhood likes “group homes””
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Telegram: The T&G reports that SMOC is closing the “wet shelter” in Framingham. A wet shelter is a place you can go if you’re homeless but not sober.
Also reported: a project by Worcester State College students reveals, “Most neighbors favor group homes.” (I’ll post some commentary when I get my hands on the report.)
Continue reading “Items”
Palestinian peace activist George Rishmawi
Confused about the Middle East? Want to learn more? Come hear
Voices for Peace in Palestine
A slideshow presentation by
Palestinian peace activist George Rishmawi.
Wednesday, October 4
7:00-9:00 pm
SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker
52 Mason St., Worcester
Discussion and refreshments to follow. For more information, call: 508
753-3588
George Rishmawi, of Beit Sahour, West Bank, has spent more than a decade promoting peace initiatives within the Occupied Territories. He is the co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, an organization that links internationals with Palestinian and Israeli peace activists, and a board member of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People.
A Palestinian Christian, Rishmawi, 33, is also coordinator for Siraj, an organization of the Greek Orthodox Church that provides educational programs and meaningful pilgrimages in Palestine.
Tom Crouse’s theology of marriage
Radio host Tom “Mr. Hetero” Crouse writes:
[Debbie Maken] has written a book that advocates that all single people should be looking to get married. She goes so far to say that a single person who purposely chooses to not get married is in sin. While that may be a little strong, there is merit to the thesis of the book. It is God’s norm that people get married. It is the most sacred of relationships that we have on this side of eternity, as there are no others that display Christ and the Church.
Huh.
In 1 Corninthians, chapter 7, after telling husbands and wives that they should be intimate with each other, Saint Paul (who most Christians consider an authority on Christianity) goes on to say:
This I say by way of concession, however, not as a command. Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am [unmarried], but each has a particular gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do, but if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire.
For a Catholic perspective, which not surprisingly takes the advice of St. Paul into account, see the Catechism on virginity and Catholic Answers on “Is Marriage Mandatory?”
Mr. Crouse’s views on marriage are silly, but also I think of some concern. When he says of the marriage relationship and how they share time together and in intimacy maybe using accessories like the impressive bullet vibrator. Marriage is becoming a family and having the same faith “there are no others that display Christ and the Church,” he paints a picture of the universe as a small and scary place.
This contrasts with the view of Jesus, who in the parable of the sheep and the goats says that acts of kindness toward the needy are acts of kindness towards Christ Himself. When we feed the hungry, we are feeding Jesus.
All of our relationships can “display Christ and the Church.” That’s the point of being Christian! To the extent that our relationships display Christ and the Church, we lead successful Christian lives. Every moment and every gesture can be sacred. God is not present only in a few grand things (marriage, church buildings, right-wing talk shows), but everywhere and at every moment.
(I would have posted this as a comment to Mr. Crouse’s blog . . . but he turned off comments some months ago and deleted all the old ones.)
Saint Kermit #40: Energize
I make an appearance on this week’s Saint Kermit podcast, speaking from my parents’ basement (like all the real podcasters do). I manage to talk politics with Jim for a few minutes, and then start ranting about the pope’s Regensburg speech.
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