Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill Praises Pope Emeritus for “Uncompromising and Consistent” Leadership

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia has thanked Pope Benedict XVI for his uncompromising position on faith issues and wished him strength, the patriarch's press service reported on Friday.

From Voice of Russia, Interfax

"In these days, which are special to you, I would like to express feelings of brotherly love in Christ and respect," the patriarch said in his message to the pontiff.

The patriarch said the decision made by Benedict XVI to step down from his post, which the pope announced "with humility and simplicity" on February 11, drew "a lot of response" in the hearts of millions of Catholics.

"Your uncompromising and consistent position on issues relating to faith and your adherence to the living church traditions have always been close to us. At a time when the ideology of permissiveness and moral relativism is trying to cause people to lose moral values, you boldly raised your voice in defense of evangelical ideals and high human dignity, calling on people to become free from sin," Patriarch Kirill said.

Patriarch Kirill said it is with warmth that he recalls his meetings with Joseph Ratzinger before his election as pope.

Patriarch Kirill believes the relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, "which bear great responsibility for testifying Christ to the modern world," received "a new impetus" in the years of the service of Benedict XVI.

Patriarch Kirill said he is hoping "the good and close relations between Orthodox and Catholic Christians," which developed with active participation by Benedict XVI, will continue developing under his successor.

"Accept my sincere wishes of good health, long life, and God's help in your prayer and theological work," the patriarch said in his message to Benedict XVI.

Benedict XVI voluntarily left his post as pope on February 28. Such things have not happened in the Vatican for almost 600 years. The last pope to resign was Gregory XII in the 1415.

Benedict XVI intends to settle down in a monastery in the Vatican. He will not take part in church management and will dev vote his life wholly to prayer and thinking.

In his last address to believers, Benedict XVI said: "This day is different from other days. I will not be pope anymore, I will be a pilgrim undertaking his last stage of pilgrimage on this earth. This day has brought great joy to me. I am ready to serve God with all my heart, prayers, and thoughts, and all my internal forces. I bless you in the name of the Holy Spirit," he said.

Exultate Festival Choir - Brahms Requiem: "How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place"

Father Rutler: "A Crown That Will Never Perish"

A weekly column by Father George W. Rutler.

Given the strengths and weaknesses of human nature, every day is a spiritual combat between our good intentions and our evil temptations. One of the most subtle of those temptations is to underestimate this struggle, supposing that a spiritual battle is less real than a physical battle. The fact is, while earthly warfare requires a full exercise of the natural virtues, the spiritual battle is even more intense, with consequences that extend beyond the limits of time and space. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Rebuilding Catholic Culture

An interview with Dr. Ryan N.S. Topping about his book Rebuilding Catholic Culture

Dr. Ryan N. S. Topping earned a doctorate in theology at Oxford, is a Fellow at Thomas More College in New Hampshire, and has written two books about St. Augustine. His recently published book, Rebuilding Catholic Culture: How The Catechism Can Shape Our Common Life (Sophia Institute Press, 2012), has been praised by Fr. Aidan Nichols, OP (“This book deserves to take its place among the Catholic classics.”), Joseph Pearce (“Ryan Topping wields the Catechism as a weapon of wisdom…”), and Fr. John Saward (“This profound work of scholarship is a delight to read.”), among others. 

Dr. Topping corresponded recently with Catholic World Report about his book, and discussed the Catechism of the Catholic Church, resisting the modern and secular “masters”, the challenges posed by modernity, the various assaults on Catholicism and the family, and why Kant rules our days and Nietzsche our night life. 

Catholic World Report: It has now been nearly twenty years since the Catechism of the Catholic Church was published in English. How well or how poorly do you think it has been received and used in that time? How do you hope Rebuilding Catholic Culture will inspire a deeper reading and appreciation of the Catechism?

Dr. Topping: The work of the restoration of culture is the work of saints. How are saints born? They are born through grace, to be sure. But grace is aided by precept and example. The task of reclaiming our culture for the Church is a battle with many fronts. Far more important than good books is the renewal of liturgy within our churches and the restoration of order within our families and schools. Books rarely excite without lively teachers to place them in our hands.

To explain a doctrine is to teach, but to illustrate how its meaning can transform action is to excite. I tried to keep both of these aims in view while writing. My hope is that Rebuilding Catholic Culture will in some small way strengthen the nerve and excite the imagination of its readers.

 

CWR: You write, in the Introduction, that, “Intellectual humility is a great good, but self-imposed humiliation before our medical, moral, and political masters is unbecoming.” What are some examples of that “self-imposed humiliation” and why do so many Catholics embrace it? What are some examples of these modern masters? 

Read more at Catholic World Report >>

Michigan Becomes Key Battleground in Defense of Marriage

American Family Association of Michigan President Gary Glenn debated a liberal attorney Thursday night who filed a lawsuit asking a single federal judge to overturn the Marriage Protection Amendment (which Gary coauthored) that was overwhelmingly approved by 2.7 million Michigan voters on the ballot in 2004.

Fox 2 News Headlines

A federal judge will hear the lawsuit next week in Michigan's Oakland County.

Homosexual activists have also announced a petition drive to put repeal of Michigan's Marriage Protection Amendment on the ballot in November 2014, and they say they'll raise $10 million to pass the repeal. (Grand Rapids Press, Jan. 31, 2013)

AFA-Michigan is on the front line in defending Christian culture in the United States and their success is important to us all. Please stand with AFA-Michigan today to support and defend marriage.

Please send you tax-deductible contribution today to:

AFA-Michigan, PO Box 1904, Midland, Michigan 48641

Or by credit card online at: http://goo.gl/P6Soa

Cardinal Dolan Discusses the Ideal Papal Candidate

Has the Bell Begun to Toll for China?

By Patrick J. Buchanan

“Why did the Soviet Union disintegrate? Why did the Soviet Communist Party collapse? An important reason was that their ideals and convictions wavered,” China’s new leader, Xi Jinping, told a closed meeting of party elite in Guangdong province.

“Finally all it took was one quiet word from Gorbachev to declare the dissolution of the Soviet Communist Party, and a great party was gone,” said Xi, according to notes obtained by The New York Times.