Gerald Celente Discusses His "Greatest Fear"

His really unpleasant predictions start kicking in around the 5:00 minute mark, but the whole message is dismal. I don't know much about the host, so please don't assume I'm endorsing him, because I'm not. But I do find Celente's take on the economic crisis to be worth listening to.

Michael O'Brien's Warning About Harry Potter and "Spiritual Nausea"

The "Harry Potter Wars" that raged for a few years awhile ago between Catholics who like and approve of the books and movies versus those who see them as dangerous and to be avoided (I myself am among the latter group) may likely flare up again with the release of a new book on the subject by the preeminent Catholic fiction author and artist Michael O'Brien (Father Elijah). I have known Michael personally for 15 years and can say without reservation that I admire and respect him tremendously and have learned a great deal from his gentle wisdom. (If you've never read any of his books, I'd suggest starting with his excellent Father Elijah and his new one [see below]).

Some years ago, Michael and I recorded our detailed discussion of the Harry Potter phenomenon and what we saw (and see) as the particular problems and dangers inherent in it. After its release on CD, I received a fair bit of reaction from people who strenuously objected to our negative take on HP, as well as others who shared our apprehensions. What struck me by these reactions was how strident, emotional and, at times, downright obstreperous some of Catholic supporters of Harry Potter could be. Not all of them reacted this way, to be sure, in fact most did not, but there were those whose snide and dismissive comments about those who see big problems with Harry Potter were eye-opening. (I hope we don't see another outbreak of that unpleasantness in the comments of this post.)

Anyway, whether or not you have made up your mind about Harry Potter, pro or con, I do recommend spending some time reading and thinking about Michael's eye-opening insights into this controversial issue. Here's his introduction to a new book explaining why he believes that Harry Potter is not good, why it is pretty poison, and why Catholic parents should see that their children avoid it.

Preface to Harry Potter and the Paganization of Culture

by Michael D. O'Brien

[published May, 2010]

This book grew out of a series of articles which were written over a ten-year period for various Christian periodicals. At first, I had no interest in reading the Harry Potter novels, and indeed felt that I had already expended considerable time researching the field of fantasy literature when writing a book on the subject in the mid-1990’s. Moreover, the constant reviews of the Potter series had given me a general sense about the stories and the popular opinions. Oceans of spilled ink and electronic text seemed to cover the pros and cons well enough. No need for me to add my opinion.

However, the first volumes were often recommended to our family by well-meaning people, and seemed to be read in so many homes we knew, that I could hardly ignore the phenomenon. Then came letters and phone calls from friends wanting to know what I thought about the series, all describing their initial uneasiness about it. I replied that I really couldn’t offer an opinion without reading the books for myself, and besides, there was such a tsunami of neo-pagan fantasy novels, films, and e-games pouring into young people’s lives it would be a lifetime’s work just to keep abreast of it all, let alone thoughtfully discern each one. They agreed, but suggested that since this particular series was fast becoming the biggest best-selling publishing phenomenon of all time, it might be worth reading. They added that some writers whom they admired said that these books were seductive and potentially damaging; other opinion-shapers said they were harmless and got children reading, in fact were getting a whole generation of young people burying their noses in books!

Nevertheless, I still declined to read them. But then came a curious 24 hour period in which I spoke with three different people (in two telephone calls that came out of the blue and one chance meeting face-to-face). All three described a personal experience in very much the same words. I did not initiate the subject, nor did I prompt their thoughts on the matter. None of them knew each other. All were parents of healthy, happy families, and as far as I knew were emotionally and mentally well-balanced. These were people I respected for their mature stability as well as their gifts of wisdom and goodness. They had strong faith in Christ, were neither superstitious nor suspicious by nature, were not alarmists, and did not tend to hysteria or paranoia. They had provided a thriving cultural life for their families, books were treasured in each of their homes, and among their collections were many fantasy novels for the young. Yet, that day each of them said something like the following:

“I heard so much about the Harry Potter books, and very good people told me they’re great. So we bought one [or were given one] and I started to read it. At first I had no problems with it. Then something strange happened. In the middle of a chapter I was suddenly overwhelmed by nausea.”

“Nausea?” I asked.

“Yes, a kind of spiritual nausea. I didn’t see it coming because I wanted to like these books. The whole world’s in love with them, even a lot of good Christians, so I felt they were probably healthy enough to give to our kids. I just wanted to check it out first. I’m glad I did.”

Unknown to each other, these three spiritually awake parents were speaking about a “spiritual nausea.” All three encouraged me to read the books and write an assessment. Was it a coincidence, or was it one of those moments when the Holy Spirit was speaking, sending a nudge in triplicate?

Even so, I hesitated taking part in any kind of public response to the series. I simply had no time or energy for it. Yet I had learned to pay attention to such “coincidences,” and so took it to our Lord in prayer.

I prayed and listened and prayed—and didn’t like what I was “hearing.”

So I prayed more and listened more, hoping to hear something else, but to no avail. . . . (continue reading)

Envoy Institute Summer Apologetics Camp

Come enjoy deepening your faith and learning how to better defend it from some of America’s leading Catholic apologists, while having a blast in the great outdoors in a setting that’s close to heaven: nestled in the Pisgah National Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. (Go to www.2FunCamps.com to check out our gorgeous conference site. Boys and girls will sleep in separate camps, but will be together during the day.)

Our first-ever Envoy Institute Summer Apologetics Camp is open to students ages 16-19 and will be held August 15-21. Sessions will be led by Dr. Ben Wiker, Jim Burnham, Ken Hensley, Dr. Paul Thigpen, and your host Patrick Madrid, Director of the Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey College. Other speakers will be finalized over the summer, and all reading materials, etc. will be supplied. And in between sessions you’ll have ample opportunities to enjoy fun activities like whitewater rafting, rope climbing, hiking, or just reading in the shade of a tree.

Details and registration info here.

"Treasures Holy and Mystical"

A new book by our Catholic brother blogger Fr. Philip Neri Powell, O.P. has just hit the market and, judging from the impressive things he's written on his blog, I have no doubt this book will be a welcome addition to my library of spiritually works.

Check it out, and help the good Padre help the Dominican Order by buying a copy or two. Says he: "All the royalties from sales go to support the preaching mission of the Order. . .and not to support my Nutella habit!"

Why Young Catholics Are Leaving the Church

By Kathryn Jean Lopez

Catholic Radio (finally) arrives in Washington, D.C., in a big way

The EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network announced some big news this morning:

W-M-E-T 1160 AM is now on the air… serving our nation's capital — Washington DC!

Congratulations to Len Oswald, Toya Hall, Doug Pearson and all involved with Guadalupe Radio to help make this happen!

Washington DC is the number 9 ranked radio market in the country, and with a powerful 50,000 watts, the station will be available to an estimated 5 million people throughout the DC metro.

This is a great victory for Our Lord and His Church.... A big, big welcome to all our new listeners now hearing EWTN Radio on Guadalupe Radio in Washington, DC — WMET 1160 AM!

This is big news. The station's 50,000 watts daytime signal— a blowtorch — will completely blanket all of DC, and will extend into large parts of the surrounding states of Maryland, Virgina, and Pennsylvania. This is muy good news, amigos. Muy, muy good.

It will be very interesting to see how this new influx of robust, orthodox, aredently pro-life Catholic voices (Fr. Corapi, Scott Hahn, Catholic Answers Live, etc.) will be received by the locals, especially by those CINO types who infest the corridors of power in that town. (Take note, Nancy Pelosi!)

On a personal note, I'm particularly pleased by this new station going live today because my own EWTN radio show, the "Open Line" broadcast (Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. ET) will have its debut today, the same day the station debuts its new format of 24/7 Catholic programming. Hoo ha.

And the secular media has picked up on this story.

Love Will Keep Us Alive

I'm sure the Eagles didn't have any theological or eschatological thoughts in mind when they wrote this beaut of a song, but, even so, it seems to me that it inadvertently offers a flash, here and there, of a certain theological truth we Catholics should remind ourselves about frequently, especially as we move through difficult times in which "the world is changing, right before [our] eyes."

I'm looking for 100 committed Catholics. Are you one?

Please click the image to read my message about the work we're doing at the Envoy Institute and how you can play a role.

I hope you'll join us today. Thanks.

— Patrick

What a way to woo a woman

Cheer Up, Sleepy Gene

Ol' Gene Robinson is at it again. This time, he's hectoring Pope Benedict XVI about sex, or more specifically, homosexual sex, something Gene knows a thing or two about, dontchyaknow.

I'm not sure why, exactly, but the refrain from the Monkee's song, "Daydream Believer," just popped right into my mind when I started reading the following story from LifeSiteNews.com.

“Cheer up, sleepy Gene Jean.

Oh, what can it mean

To a daydream believer

And a homecoming queen?”

Anyway, here's the article. Get a load of this:

Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly gay Episcopal bishop whose 2003 ordination threatened to tear apart the Global Anglican Communion, has published an open letter to Pope Benedict XVI, in which he advises the pope regarding how to reform the Church and denies any connection between homosexuality and the Church abuse crisis.

In his letter Robinson recalls how the Episcopal Church became aware of the sexual abuse of minors in its ranks twenty years ago in the United States, and relates in detail how his Church dealt with the problem. "Rather than refusing to acknowledge our transgressions," he says, "we sought to change our church's culture."

Nevertheless, he also says, "I would not presume to instruct you. That would be arrogant. Nor would I impose upon you advice you've not sought."

Robinson commends the pope's letter to the faithful in Ireland and his meeting with victims of abuse in Malta as "a good start." But he also goes on to make the more controversial point that it is merely a "thoroughly debunked myth" that connects homosexuality with pedophilia and child abuse.

"I believe it is misguided and wrong for gay men to be scapegoated in this scandal," he says. "In the media, representatives of and advocates for the Roman Catholic Church have laid blame for sexual abuse at the feet of gay priests."

Robinson’s remarks were most likely directed at Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of the Vatican, who had stated earlier this year that, "Many psychologists, many psychiatrists, have demonstrated that there is no relationship between celibacy and pedophilia."

"But many others have demonstrated, and have told me recently, that there is a relationship between homosexuality and pedophilia," he continued. "That is the truth, this is the problem." Bertone’s contentions appear to be supported by the fact that studies of clerical sex abuse have found that the vast majority of such abuse is homosexual in nature.

According to the John Jay Report, a report commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and issued in 2004, 81% of the victims of priestly sexual abuse were male. A 2002 study conducted by USA Today in 2002 similarly found that 91% of allegations against priests involved male victims.

One step that the Church has taken in addressing the abuse crisis has been to reiterate the requirement that men with deep-seated homosexual tendencies must not be admitted to the seminary or the priesthood.

The cardinal’s remarks have also sparked a re-analysis of the data in reference to homosexuality and pedophilia. A lengthy paperissued last month by Brian Clowes of Human Life International cites multiple studies showing that homosexuality is far higher among pedophiles than among the rest of the population. "Celibacy is not the root of the problem," Clowes claims. "Homosexuality is."

Robinson, however, says that "every reputable scientific study shows that homosexuals are no more or less likely to be child-abusers than heterosexuals. Psychologically healthy homosexual men are no more drawn to little boys than psychologically heterosexual men are drawn to little girls."

He also takes direct aim at Church requirements barring homosexuals from the priesthood. “Homosexual priests have faithfully and responsibly served God throughout Catholic history,” he says. “To scapegoat them and deprive them of their pulpits is a tragedy for the people they serve and for the church. Yours is a problem of abuse, not sexual orientation.” (source)

Reinforcements have arrived in the battle against relativism

Just imagine having Dr. Peter Kreeft (renowned Catholic author and professor of philosophy at Boston College), Teresa Tomeo, Jim Burnham, and a whole group of dedicated Catholic leaders personally tutor you in the art of resisting and refuting the "Dictatorship of Relativism." Well, with this stellar set of DVDs or CDs (or MP3 and MP4 downloads), you can have exactly what you're looking for.

Check out this all-star lineup of dynamic Catholic speakers who will teach you how. This is a truly powerful set of 12 talks that will prepare you to more effectively "fight the good fight" on the modern intellectual battlefield of ideas and ideologies.

Don't just sit back and wait for Pope Benedict or Fr. Corapi to lead the charge. You have what it takes, and these teaching DVDs & CDs will show you how to make it happen.

Would you like to reach out to those who have left the Catholic Church?

If you're looking for a speaker for your parish or group who specializes in helping former Catholics come home, someone with many years of experience who can effectively teach other Catholics how to do the same, I can help. I'm scheduling parish and conference events through 2012. If you're interested in arranging one for your parish or group, please let me know by calling 740-345-2705 or by sending in a seminar request. More info here.

San Francisco-based Craigslist making millions on "adult" ads

I know plenty of decent people who use Craigslist, innocently looking for a job, or to sell a car, or for a good deal on used books, furniture, and the like. There are some great buys available there, from what they tell me. But there is also a dark underworld to Craigslist, seething beneath the bland surface of ads for housing, stuff for sale, jobs, and services. Beneath that mundane patina lies the dank and dangerous basement of sex for sale.

California Catholic Daily has just posted a revealing article about what actually happens at Craigslist that you probably never knew about. Caveat emptor!

“Biggest online hub for selling women against their will”

San Francisco-based Craigslist, the international online classified advertising network, earned millions last year from selling “adult advertising,” ads that have prompted law-enforcement probes in at least 40 states.

“The ads, many of which blatantly advertise prostitution, are expected to bring $36 million this year, according to a new projection of Craigslist’s income,” the New York Times reported April 25. “That is three times the revenue in last year’s projection.”

“Law-enforcement officials have been fighting a mostly losing battle to get Craigslist to rein in the sex ads,” said the Times. “At the same time, officials of organizations that oppose human trafficking say the site remains the biggest online hub for selling women against their will.”

“Last week, in the latest example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested 14 members of the Gambino crime family on charges of, among other things, selling the sexual services of girls ages 15 to 19 on Craigslist,” the Times reported.

“Sex Trade Big Business for Craig,” reported KNBC-TV, Channel 11 in the Bay Area, referring to Craigslist founder Craig Newmark. The television station said in a headline on its website, “Money charged for formerly free ads estimated to bring in $36 million.”

“Craigslist revenue grew 22 percent last year, to $122 million, largely on the strength of increasing fees for ‘adult’ advertising and no longer sending that money to charity,” said NBC Bay Area.

The revenue estimates for Craigslist come from the Advanced Interactive Media Group, which, said NBC Bay Area, “regularly calculates revenue estimates for the private company by tracking the number and nature of ads posted to the site.”

Craigslist originally promised to donate revenues from ‘adult’ ads to charity, but “announced that it would no longer disclose its plans with that money last year, suggesting it's now going to the bottom line,” said the NBC Bay Area report.

According to the Times, Craigslist “had seemed to put the conflict over its sex ads to rest” last May when it agreed to monitor ‘adult’ postings for illegal activity. “Attorneys general in 40 states, including New Jersey, Illinois and Connecticut, investigated the company for facilitating criminal activity, after a wave of publicity about prostitution and violent crimes linked to the site,” the Times reported. . . . (Continue reading)

Say hello to my little friend

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:

Habemus novum nepōtem!

Eminentissimum ac pulchrum puerum

Qui sibi nomen imposuit PAULUS IOSEPH.

I announce to you a great joy:

We have a new grandson!

The most eminent and most beautiful boy

Who takes to himself the name of PAUL JOSEPH (MADRID).

Nancy and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our 8th grandchild, Paul. The little lad is the fifth child of our oldest son, Jonathon, and his lovely wife Kelly.

He was born yesterday, Wednesday, April 28, in the year of Our Lord 2010, weighing in at 6 lbs., 15 oz., and measuring 20". He is healthy in every respect and everyone in the family is delighted to finally meet him in person. My thanks to all of you who have been praying for Kelly and baby during her pregnancy.

P.S. For those who are interested in such things, our grandsons now outnumber our granddaughters, 6 to 2.

My view from the pew on aspects of the sex-scandal crisis

I was interviewed recently by Greg & Jennifer Willits of "The Catholics Next Door" radio show fame (heard on Sirius Radio's Catholic Channel). We discussed a variety of issues surrounding the ongoing sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church, including the wisdom of priestly celibacy, how Catholics should respond to those who raise the scandals as a challenge, how the scandals are more like a tsunami than a tidal wave, what we can practically do to facilitate genuine healing, whether bishops who are implicated in these scandals should be prosecuted by the law, and more. To listen, click the mitre above or click here.