The National Catholic Register has been doing an ongoing series on the US Dioceses with the most Catholic elementary students to see how their textbooks conform to the Bishops' standards. When the series started they mentioned the Diocese of Rockville Centre would be looked at and the article has finally appeared:
"Even though the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s textbook policy requiring materials in conformity with the Catechism has only been in effect since Sept. 1, 2005, every parish or school checked by the National Catholic Register was found to be in compliance. "
The article is a little disappointing since it lumps DRVC in with the Archdiocese of NY and is a little light on facts. What parishes were checked, what schools? What textbooks were in use? How was the change to conformity with the Cathechism perceived by teachers and parents? The only person quoted is the director of catechesis for the Diocese. I would have liked some quotes from teachers, parents, etc.. Anyway, it is good to know the elementary schools are using approved textbooks. The high schools don't have to yet as there are not enough texts on the Bishops' list yet. Any move to orthodoxy is good for all. If any readers can enlighten me about what books are used in schools on Long Island please comment here.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
4 YEAR BLOGIVERSARY
Any moron can have a blog, it takes a special one to keep it going for 4 years!
This blog started on 1/18/03 with the following post:
Please allow me to introduce myself, I am a 32 year old cradle Catholic who "reverted" about 3 years ago. I have enjoyed reading the many Catholic blogs and figured I would try it out. Let me start by thanking those bloggers who have educated me, enlightened me, infuriated me, made me laugh and reminded me how awesome it is to be Catholic ( even now). Thanks:
6 of those 10 are still active, a few have different names and addresses. This blog was Gen X Revert for most of the time, I changed the name only recently to focus more on Long Island, after having pretty much said everything I have to say on the "revert" and Gen X things. I started this blog after discovering Catholic blogging through Gerard Serafin (Bugge)'s list of blogs. After Gerard died, I tried to replicate his list and that Catholic Blog Directory is currently maintained by Andrea out in California.
Catholic blogs took off during the priest sex scandals because Catholics needed to vent, correct the record, and comment. I enjoyed commenting at various blogs and felt I wanted to share some more with people by creating my own blog. I had 16 years of Catholic school under my belt and it was a very good experience so I wanted to share that with people as well. When I rediscovered Catholicism I found a whole world of ideas and I wanted to share my new "discovery" with others. The breadth, scope, and depth of Catholicism is not obvious to those who only know of what goes on in the Church by reading the mainstream media.
In these four years I fell in love, married, and got a new job. I am very happy to say the least, and hopefully I can say the same thing four years from now!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Mohamad Bazzi wrote an article in today's Newsday with the headline:
"Decapitation of Saddam's half-brother could increase tensions"
So, some arabs get upset over the decapitation of an evil man who is responsible for the deaths of thousands? Why don't they get upset over the decapitation of innocent man Nick Berg? Or how about the 3 Christian girls beheaded in Indonesia as "Ramadan trophies". Or, how about the beheading of Mr. Sobero in the Philippines done by muslims? Or how about the beheading of Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl? I doubt they would, since that perverted "prophet" muhammad actually supported beheading (non-muslims of course):
"According to Muhammad’s sacralized biography by Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad himself sanctioned the massacre of the Qurayza, a vanquished Jewish tribe. He appointed an "arbiter" who soon rendered this concise verdict: the men were to be put to death, the women and children sold into slavery, the spoils to be divided among the Muslims. Muhammad ratified this judgment stating that it was a decree of God pronounced from above the Seven Heavens. Thus some 600 to 900 men from the Qurayza were lead on Muhammad’s order to the Market of Medina. Trenches were dug and the men were beheaded, and their decapitated corpses buried in the trenches while Muhammad watched in attendance. Women and children were sold into slavery, a number of them being distributed as gifts among Muhammad’s companions, and Muhammad chose one of the Qurayza women (Rayhana) for himself."
For more on the islamic tradition of beheading read "Beheading in the Name of Islam" at the Middle East Forum. Here is the conclusion:
"Islamic civilization is not a historical anomaly in its sanction of decapitation.[36] The Roman Empire beheaded citizens (such as the Christian Saint Paul) while they crucified noncitizens (such as Jesus Christ). French revolutionaries employed the guillotine to decapitate opponents. Nevertheless, Islam is the only major world religion today that is cited by both state and non-state actors to legitimize beheadings. And two major aspects of decapitation in an Islamic context should be noted: first, the practice has both Qur'anic and historical sanction. It is not the product of a fabricated tradition. Second, in contradiction to the assertions of apologists, both Muslim and non-Muslim, these beheadings are not simply a brutal method of drawing attention to the Islamist political agenda and weakening opponents' will to fight. Zarqawi and other Islamists who practice decapitation believe that God has ordained them to obliterate their enemies in this manner. Islam is, for this determined minority of Muslims, anything but a "religion of peace." It is, rather, a religion of the sword with the blade forever at the throat of the unbeliever."
"Decapitation of Saddam's half-brother could increase tensions"
So, some arabs get upset over the decapitation of an evil man who is responsible for the deaths of thousands? Why don't they get upset over the decapitation of innocent man Nick Berg? Or how about the 3 Christian girls beheaded in Indonesia as "Ramadan trophies". Or, how about the beheading of Mr. Sobero in the Philippines done by muslims? Or how about the beheading of Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl? I doubt they would, since that perverted "prophet" muhammad actually supported beheading (non-muslims of course):
"According to Muhammad’s sacralized biography by Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad himself sanctioned the massacre of the Qurayza, a vanquished Jewish tribe. He appointed an "arbiter" who soon rendered this concise verdict: the men were to be put to death, the women and children sold into slavery, the spoils to be divided among the Muslims. Muhammad ratified this judgment stating that it was a decree of God pronounced from above the Seven Heavens. Thus some 600 to 900 men from the Qurayza were lead on Muhammad’s order to the Market of Medina. Trenches were dug and the men were beheaded, and their decapitated corpses buried in the trenches while Muhammad watched in attendance. Women and children were sold into slavery, a number of them being distributed as gifts among Muhammad’s companions, and Muhammad chose one of the Qurayza women (Rayhana) for himself."
For more on the islamic tradition of beheading read "Beheading in the Name of Islam" at the Middle East Forum. Here is the conclusion:
"Islamic civilization is not a historical anomaly in its sanction of decapitation.[36] The Roman Empire beheaded citizens (such as the Christian Saint Paul) while they crucified noncitizens (such as Jesus Christ). French revolutionaries employed the guillotine to decapitate opponents. Nevertheless, Islam is the only major world religion today that is cited by both state and non-state actors to legitimize beheadings. And two major aspects of decapitation in an Islamic context should be noted: first, the practice has both Qur'anic and historical sanction. It is not the product of a fabricated tradition. Second, in contradiction to the assertions of apologists, both Muslim and non-Muslim, these beheadings are not simply a brutal method of drawing attention to the Islamist political agenda and weakening opponents' will to fight. Zarqawi and other Islamists who practice decapitation believe that God has ordained them to obliterate their enemies in this manner. Islam is, for this determined minority of Muslims, anything but a "religion of peace." It is, rather, a religion of the sword with the blade forever at the throat of the unbeliever."
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