April 2005

Normally a person gets stabbed *first*, and THEN goes to the hospital. Well, in my case it went the other way around: I visited the tropical disease clinic and got my needles in preparation for my trip to the Philippines. Kind of odd to think about it, but as of right now I have 5 diseases coursing through my body.

The professional college governing Quebec doctors has decided that teenage girls will now be able to receive birth control pills from their school nurse, without needing a prescription. Reason? “We wanted to make it easier for adolescents to get birth control.”

As well, “under the new agreement, nurses will also be able to raise the issue of contraception, instead of waiting for the teen to bring it up during their discussions.”

This evening I had the honour of passing the 1st degree of the Knights of Columbus.

Want to know how the initiation ceremony unfolds? I could tell you, but I’d have to kill you. ;-)

Seriously, I am very glad to be part of this organization. I’ve not a big joiner of groups, but the more I’ve come to know the Knights the more impressed I have become. They do lots of great charity work, they live true mutual support in a brotherhood, and they stand up for their faith. I’ll wear the pin with pride.

Yesterday an opinion piece was presented in the Montreal Gazette regarding the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI. I had objections to its content, and the tone was very disrespectful. In reply I fired off a letter to the editor, which was published this morning. Looking at it in print, I had to admit that I hadn’t done much better. (Note to self: don’t write letters to the editor when still in the midst of reaction.)

I’ve been completing my stuff for Concordia, but in the meantime we’ve had great news: HABEMUS PAPAM!

The reaction to Cardinal Ratzinger’s election as Pope Benedict XVI has been quite mixed — many people don’t seem to know how to react. Let me offer this observation: the reaction of people to Josef Ratzinger’s election reveals more about them than about Josef Ratzinger. The election holds up a mirror to us as Catholics: we need to have the courage to look inside and see what our hidden hopes and fears might be.

During the recent period that I wasn’t blogging I *was* still reading blogs, including a couple of Jewish blogs. Josh at Chakira posted an interesting entry inviting Orthodox Jews to study Torah in honour of Pope John Paul II — scroll down to see the comments I had to offer.

You read that right. Some twit put a consecrated host up for sale on eBay. You can see the details of the auction here.

The Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights has contacted eBay regarding this incident, and has posted something regarding the response they received.

May he rest in peace.

The Vatican website has an excellent web page that shows the Holy Father’s journey throughout his papacy.

It’s been an emotional day. Ciao for now.