Thursday

Culinary Arts

June 22, 2006
By Paul Dion, STL

I have decided to lighten the week up a little bit and ask you a question that you perhaps have not thought about too much. Don't fool yourselves, this is a religious question.

There are certain corners of the world in which one of the favorite picnic "pièces de résistance" is canis domesticus = dog.

Now I know that some of you are familiar with the culinary preparation of rattlesnakes, pythons, alligators, kangaroos, deers, bears, geese, quails, squabs, whales, lobsters, swordfish, mahi-mahi and perhaps a few more.

The challenge here is to spend a few moments with "man's best friend" in your imagination and either condemn or support the practice of taking "Rex", "Fifi", "Buster" or "Shoo-shoo" to a wok.

Do not address this challenge on the spur of the moment. Read the above text carefully before you begin your answer. You may find some slick hints as to how to attack your esposé.

Last clue: There is a famous Biblical passage that is invoked when this question comes on the table.

Please feel free to post your comments. We will publish all of them so we may all learn from one another. And in a few days I will post my theological wrap-up explaining the Catholic doctrine behind this week's burning question.

(Click here to view the many wonderful articles that await you in www.ParishWorld.net, America's Catholic Lifestyle Magazine. Be informed, be inspired, be blessed. )

What is wrong with this chain email?

By Paul Dion, STL

Here's the situation. You received the following email from one of your friends. Read it and based on you own personal beliefs and understanding on our Christian faith, can you tell me what is wrong with this email? Go ahead and post your responses. We will post all your responses. And in a few days, I will post the Catholic theology that will explain what exactly of off-kilter with this chain email.

Here's the email:

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit:
9. I believe in the holy Catholic Church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
11. The resurrection of the body:
12. And life everlasting. Amen.

These are thoughts of salvation. You have the choice of deleting this E-mail or of sending it on to at least 12 other people for whom you care very deeply. If you share these profoundly spiritual statements with others you will be blessed with untold consolations, joy and good fortune within 12 days.

(Click here to view the many wonderful articles that await you in www.ParishWorld.net, America's Catholic Lifestyle Magazine. Be informed, be inspired, be blessed. )

Which one will you vote for: Roe v. Wade or Homosexual Marriage

June 4, 2006
by Paul Dion, STL

I came across this news item and couldn't resist posing you the challenge that it presents to the religious people who inhabit this country. This is as much a religious question as it is a political one. Of course I know that we will sooner or later have both situations in our country.

But for now, let's pretend that we have a choice of one or the other. It has profound religious ramifications.

I have therefore decided to throw out the following challenge to you. Give this some thought, send me your answer with religious reasoning to support it, and I think that we will learn a lot from the sum of your excogitations (dynamic thoughts).

THE CHALLENGE: Let's ptetend this came to a vote on November 7, 2006, and we have to choose between continuing Roe vs. Wade (abortion) or allowing homosexual marriage. We can’t keep both. We have to decide which one we want. How do you vote and why?

(Click here to view the rest of the many wonderful articles that await you in www.ParishWorld.net, America's Catholic Lifestyle Magazine)