HAPPY NEW YEAR

The year 2003 saw the War with Iraq, which was probably not a just war but one which removed an evil regime and started millions on the road to a better life. The War on Terrorism had some successes during the year and the heat has been kept on the fanatics within Islam. I hope this will continue into 2004. Locally, the release of the Suffolk County Grand Jury report on the Diocese of Rockville Centre proved that Bishop McGann was not good at keeping corruption out of the local Church, and was in fact part of it. The report did not have much effect since all of the incidents were from years ago - but at least most Catholics are more educated when it comes to the Diocese. The economy has improved in the U.S. and hopefully this trend will continue. The "Great Enema" (Mark Shea's term) of the Church calmed down a bit but thankfully continued. At least now, when bishops such as Grahman in Dallas pull stunts, they have a lot more media attention focused on them. Here are some of my hopes for 2004:

*That the War on Terrorism will continue especially with a focus on the hatred preached in mosques throughout the world.

*That the governments of Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, and China will be overthrown

*That the Catholics in Sudan, China, Saudi Arabia, the middle east, Africa, Cuba, and Indonesia will continue to grow in numbers and faith despite persecution and that all people will support them

*That the USA will reform its culture so that it will prosper and influence the world to the good

*That the purge of bad priests, bad bishops, bad theologians will continue in the Church and the New Evangelization will take hold

*That the so called "Catholic" Universities and colleges will either reform or go out of business and the real Catholic Universities and colleges (Steubenville, Ava Maria, Campion, etc..) will grow and succeed

*That the generation of heretics, haters, and fools will retire from positions within the Church so that younger people can once again grow up with a Catholic upbringing

*That the vocation crisis in communities such as the Nashville Dominicans, FSSP, and Franciscan Friars of the Renewal be solved with more space for their new members

*That all religious vocations are supported and nourished

*That Catholic seminaries are reformed or shut down

*That good priests are supported and dissenters ignored

*That the US will open new relations with countries of our own hemisphere and forget about "old Europe"

*That "old Europe" will be dominated by the "new Europe" such as Poland, etc..

*That developing countries continue to develop so jobs, water, roads, education are all more accessible to people

*That Liturgical reform takes hold so abuses in many dioceses end and that Ecclesia Dei is respected in all dioceses

*That Catholic groups such as Adoremus, Catholics United for the Faith, and Roman Catholic Faithful grow and are successful in their apostolates

*That when Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ movie is released it is a critical and commercial success