That Religious Guy: A Break in the Clouds

..... It seems that every day is a cloudy one. The weather outside may be crisp and clear, but on the inside, it's cloudy. In the minds of most high schoolers, this is the daily forecast since we are still trying to discern our vocation, our calling. What will we be in life? A doctor? A lawyer? An artist? And for me, a priest?

..... One of the benefits of being a teen discerning for the priesthood is the feeling of assurance involved in the process. I'll know that by constantly contemplating my purpose early in life, I'll come out stronger. Stronger because I will have known whether I truly was being called to the priesthood or something else. This assurance also manifests itself in different ways. The assurance of support from family and the church, and most importantly, the assurance of guidance from God.

..... The word vocation comes from the Latin vocare meaning "to call." Basically, God calls each and everyone of us to fulfill a vocation, whether it be holy orders or married life. His call, however, might not be obvious or audible at first. This is to say that one should keep quiet and listen closely for a big booming voice from the heavens. If only it were that easy. At times, a vocation might altogether just disappear because of distractions erupting from society. After all, the secular mentality seems to be that the only way to be successful in life is to get married, have kids, and make money. Emphasis on the money part. The power to discourage also plays a major role in destroying vocations. I've personally heard a range of negativity about my thoughts on becoming a priest:

"Don't waste your life!"

"This is just a phase."

"Don't you want to get married?"

..... Then I realize that each one of these comments has a flaw. Is it really a waste of one's life if it's dedicated to serving others? In essence, the office of a priest can be described by one of the titles of the Pope. A priest is a "Servant of the Servants of Christ." In order to be first, one needs to be last.
..... The vocation to be a priest is most definitely a phase. But isn't the desire to be a doctor or lawyer also phases? After all, one doesn't just wake up and say "I'm going to be a neurosurgeon!" No, it's a long and arduous process trying to determine your future profession. If it didn't have stages, no one would ever be able to determine their calling.
..... Married life is one of the highest positions on the worldly hierarchy. That and multi-billionaire bachelor/bachelorette. Sure marriage is a beautiful sacrament, a fruitful institution that represents love and procreation. Holy matrimony, however, isn't for everyone. Some people like Fr. What's His Name and Sister So and So would rather have had Holy Orders instead. I don't see what's all the fuss about. When you're a priest, you're married to the church and will have more kids then every man in your parish since everyone will be calling you Father!

.....If I could describe the process of discerning a vocation to the priesthood, it would be like a cloudy day. The clouds are so thick with doubts, discouragement, and distractions that you can't see anything. So one day, you decide to do something. Research. Discussions. Prayer. You try anything to make those dark clouds vanish until you're rewarded with a penetrating light from the sun. I imagine that this is what it feels like to find purpose, to finally see what's coming ahead.

- Jeremy Dela Cruz

P.S. Oh yeah, visit my blog where you can read all my religion posts

That Religious Guy: Rosaries and Gangs?

Here's an editorial I wrote for catholicpriest.me.uk (I revised it a little but it will mainly appear the same on the Web site.) :

..... The rosary is a Roman Catholic devotion that some say originated from St. Dominic, who had been given this gift by the Virgin Mary. To many, these simple beads and a crucifix are a sign of personal piety and veneration of the Blessed Mother and her Son. To police officers and school administrators in South Lake Tahoe, California, the rosary is considered a "gang sign."

..... Apparently on Wednesday, a group of predominantly male and Latino students were apprehended by a South Tahoe High School resource officer for reportedly using rosaries as gang affiliation. All the rosaries were confiscated and the students were photographed and their pictures put on a database. Some of the young men had previous disciplinary problems and so the belief that they were misusing their religious articles seemed valid. In our opinion, however, South Tahoe High School was wrong and was violating religious freedoms.

..... This little episode, however, caused quite a stir on campus as an organized students protest took place against the administration's actions. Word had spread through the electronic grapevine of a demonstration complete with signs and chanting. The atmosphere at 9 am Friday in the quad was one filled with banners reading "Stop Discrimination" and phrases of "We are one" being spoken throughout the crowds. Many were complaining that teachers were unfairly taking rosaries away from students, intolerable acts indeed.

..... If the rosaries at South Tahoe High were really being used as gang signs, why would the student population go to great lengths to show their displeasure and side with the Latino students? One student even considered it racial profiling since the administration seemed to be only selecting minority students for confiscation. It seems that the school and police officers in that area misconstrued devotion for deviance. The officers justified their policy because adult gang members had confessed to using rosaries as identifiable signs.

..... Granted that there may be a chance that some teens use rosaries as gang signs, school administrators, however, shouldn't see this sacred symbol as one of violence. Students at South Tahoe are now being encouraged to wear their rosaries under their shirts as a matter of safety. This does not attack the problem, but only reinforces the mentality that rosaries should now be associated with red shoelaces and Old English lettering. If anything, by asking students to hide their rosaries, this is a way for administrators to effectively keep religion off school grounds.

..... For Catholics, we must take offense to this since the Blessed Mother is one of our greatest guides in life. Her rosary is a sign of community, not gangs. Some Catholics may not like the practice of wearing rosaries because of the belief that it should be used for devotion not decoration, but many people wear rosaries as an expression of faith, a faith meant to be seen not hidden.

- Jeremy Dela Cruz

P.S. I guess we should start worrying about nuns with guns!

That Religious Guy: Catholic Climate Covenant!

..... I took the pledge just minutes ago, the St. Francis Pledge that is. The pledge is part of the nationwide effort by Catholic Climate Covenant (CCC) in helping reduce individual carbon footprints and protect the poor from the ill-effects of global warming. The several goals are to:

1. PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.

2. LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change.

3. ASSESS how we-as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations-contribute to climate change by our own energy use, consumption, waste, etc.
4. ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change.
5. ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.

..... So pledge now on their Web site: catholicclimatecovenant.org and be one of the so far 2,323 individuals who have vowed to help the earth as much as possible.

..... The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is calling the faithful to act now and do their part for the betterment of the community. “At its core, global climate change is not about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. It is about the future of God’s creation and the one human family” said the USCCB. Pope Benedict XVI also has released similar statements, urging governments to moilize their citizens to action.

..... So why does the Church care about climate change? After all, is the protection of the environment really a part of Christian obligations? According to the USCCB and CCC, it is. Since God made us all in his image, we are blessed with the dignity to be someone not just something. Climate change will more directly affect the poor and the helpless, so everyone is accountable, everyone is a part of this global problem. As the sanctity of human life concerns the rejection of abortion, euthenasia, and the death penalty, it also influences the Church's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. By protecting the environment, we are indirectly caring for the poor and all of Creation.

..... Now, when I say Church, I don't just mean that building that you may or may not attend on Sundays depending whether you want to sleep in. By Church, I also don't mean just its hierarchy, that is its deacons, priests, bishops, cardinals, and the Pope. When I write Church in this blog and in almost every other blog, I always mean the whole universal community of believers, including the common folk or "laity." Seen in this light, hopefully, you can understand that we're connected to everyone regardless of location, family ties, etc. So, the preservation of the enviroment truly is the responsibility of every man, woman, and child.

..... The Church in Stockton, CA, under Bishops Stephen Blaire, has also taken the pledge. Bishop Blaire took the pledge for the entire diocese, to affirm its commitment to the CCC's goals. He has established an Environmental Justice Sunday during Respect Life Month. Parishes all over the diocese are also using energy efficient designs and material in the construction of new buildings. The Stockton Diocese also helped pass California's AB 32, "The Global Warming Solutions Act," which obliges the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.

..... As you can see, individuals have already started the work for a cleaner future for the world. The question is, whether your here to help or not?

- Jeremy Dela Cruz

That Religious Guy: It's Not Easy Being Religious

..... I spent yesterday [Friday] afterschool with Celine, the French foreign exchange student and Claire at the Dollar Tree. The topic of eternal damnation came up in conversation (as it always seems to when I'm around, although I didn't start the topic!0). Celine apparently was fully convinced she was going to hell since religious people were apparently telling her so. Oddly enough, she rejoiced with Claire, who also joked she was going to the fiery pit! This would be my response to Celine if she ever reads this blog!

..... It's not easy being religious...

..... Sometimes it takes all you have to believe in something. In my early years, I was a grade-A atheist. I regarded religion as a fable and God as fictional. If you had told me that I would grow up to be a religious kid, I would have called you a liar. Now that I have re-instated my Roman Catholic heritage in my life, I feel more at home in the world. I feel as if I can do anything, as long as God's there to help out. In the end, it doesn't really matter what you do with your life, as long as you live it in a pure manner. At least trying to be "good" sometimes is worth more than living a life of sin. Don't wait till it's too late to be virtuous. Just try.

..... Unfortunately, some people in the world are so focused on condemning people to the fiery pit that everyone else just accepts this theological garbage and convinces themselves that since they can do nothing to escape their fate, they should just keep doing what they do. Only God decides who goes to hell or heaven. Nothing man can say or do can change that fact. It really makes me angry to see people shove the prospect of hell into the faces of the average joe or jane. We're all sinners. Some just admit it while others just hide it.

.....We religious people are so fine tuned to how to live the "right" way that we condemn ourselves more since we know the differences between right and wrong. In a way, just like how a clean shirt can make a tiny red spot visible, living a "good" life can high light your sins. The main point here is that don't be so hard on yourself. God is forgiving and you can always turn back for help.

..... Maybe it is kind of easy being religious afterall...

- Jeremy Dela Cruz

That Religious Guy: Hoping for a happy ending

..... And the Roman Catholic Church strikes again, this time against that masked villain, The Abortionist! The RC Church has foiled President Barack Obama's plan to increase abortion "rights," to the general dismay of Pro-Choice advocates, who as The Wall Street Journal put it, had worked so hard to elect him to do so. It seems that the bishops and the parishes all over America gained a well-deserved victory as the House of Representatives passed a healthcare reform bill that would prohibit abortion coverage in private insurance plans, something along the lines of no federal money going to help pay for someone else's abortion.

..... The Wall Street Journal said that the Democratic strategy of running more conservative candidates for congressional seats backfired since about 40 House Democrats are opposed to abortion "rights" (If you're wondering why I'm putting quotation marks around the word rights all the time it's because, well, abortion isn't a right at all). House Democrats who were Pro-Choice tried unsuccessfully to persuade and come to weak compromises with these Pro-Lifers. According to Representative Mike Doyle, the Bishops were so effective in their campaign was because they had a good social justice record and actually wanted to pass the bill. The Bishops also supported the Democrats' efforts to include illegal immigrants into medical benefits.

..... As a Catholic, am I happy with the outcome of the bill? Sure! Do I hope the Senate approves it? Of course! Is the battle for the right to life over? Sadly, no, but with good people working hard to make a difference in the world, I'm sure it will all end with a happy ending and a newborn's laughter.

- Jeremy Dela Cruz

That Religious Guy: Dio Mio! Moral Damages?

..... So listen up all you Churchies and God Squad Members, because this is your faith fix of today:

..... Apparently, the European Court of Human Rights has awarded (more like appeased...) Soile Lautsi, a Finnish woman residing in Italy, 5,000 euros or $7,400, in "moral damages." Her complaint? Lautsi says that her children had to attend a state school near Venice that placed crucifixes in every classroom. The European Court of Human Rights said that the crucifix would be deemed offensive against other religions and would "disturb" students of other faiths, especially atheists. Also, crucifixes in classrooms violated the concept of a secular education, blah blah, blah. Of course, the Italians are in a rage because their government has to pay this woman. Even the educational minister, Mariastella Gelmini, decried the decision saying, "In our country nobody wants to impose the Catholic religion, let alone with a crucifix...it is not by eliminating the traditions of individual countries that a united Europe is built."

..... Now, I haven't met a single person who was "morally damaged" by a crucifix. Sure, some clueless individuals (mostly atheists or Catholics in name not practice...) feel uncomfortable with the bloody appearance of Jesus Christ, but never has anyone ever come up to me and said, "Oh my word! I've been morally damaged because of the presence of your crucifix." That is just dumb. I mean I'm not European (Partly because I don't need a bathroom break, haha Carina)and I don't know what it's like there, but here in America, you can't just sue (I think) because you've been morally damaged. If so, many parents in the U.S. should be put on trial and pay fines because of the many morals they may have damaged. Not to knock parents, but surely everyone should pay a fine: teachers, friends, mail men, and the local kindergartner who runs with scissors. After all, all of these people have morally damaged in some way. Maybe I should sue ummmm the abortion clinics, music videos, and society as a whole because I am one morally damaged kid.

..... Italy is a Roman Catholic country and so Italians are angry since they view the court's decision as an attack on their culture, identity, and faith. Indeed it is. The Italian foreign minister argued that in an age where religions are trying to reconcile and get along, this court case has insulted Christianity. I wonder, in another scenario, if the woman had complained of Star of Davids or Bhudda statues in classrooms, would the European Court of Human Rights still rule the same way? This decision was biased and it's totally unfair to make the Italian government waste money just to please this woman.

..... The European Court of Human Rights said that crucifixes undermined the concept of a secular education. Well in that logic, Italian schools shouldn't teach any religion at all in history or other subjects. Why don't we just let go of this whole "education" concept and do without schools, since the Church, of course, started this whole academic revolution? Therefore this court was just biased against Christianity. Period.

..... Then there's the question of whether the Italian education system is somehow trying to convert unbelieving students to the Catholic faith...using crucifixes? How ironic! Yes, why don't we force all the people in the world to convert by using a Roman torture device used against our Lord. That's pretty fine and dandy! There's no reason or logic in believing that crucifixes are in classrooms for conversions. The crucifixes are just a testament to the Catholic heritage of Italy, home of the Vatican by the way. Now, the court is not forcing Italy to remove the crucifixes, but this decision to grant the woman money may just start this practice.

..... So today's lesson boys and girls is that in Europe, you can sue for moral damages. And apparently get away with insulting a religion to get your way.

- Jeremy "Grab your crucifixes and run!" Dela Cruz