Bishop Peña Vocal On Border Wall.
Bishop Peña Vocal on Proposed Border Wall.The Secure Fence Act of 2006 requires “at least 2 layers of reinforced fencing... extending 15 miles Northwest of the Laredo Port of Entry, then all the way to the Brownsville Port of Entry”, extending beyond to Boca Chica Beach.
Above are pictures of border fencing that is now in place along the Mexico border. This existing fencing consists of a primary 7 to 15 foot fence made of steel slabs and a secondary steel mesh fence. Between these two fences is a cleared area that is about 100’ wide that serves as a graded patrol road. Included is a lighting system, a series of closed-circuit TV camera towers, a "blaster" sound system and a network of intrusion detection sensors.
I think we can all agree that a wall like this along our Texas-Mexican border will result in an enormous swat of needless devastation that will traumatize our environment, our wildlife, our economy, our communities and our ongoing relationships with our friends and relatives to the South.
Our Government’s methods of FORCING this wall upon our communities is also seriously jeopardizing every American’s rights:
“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the authority to waive all legal requirements such Secretary, in such Secretary’s sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section.”
PLEASE... think about what your Government is doing and JOIN US!!
We need your help and support NOW! Join our group and ask what you can do!
~Kanickers
31 comments:
An easy homily for the pastor at HSP this weekend. Let us know how it goes.
I was glad to read in the paper about Bishop Pena speaking out against the border wall. It is nice to see Bishop P being such a great example of the importance of fighting injustice and speaking truth to power!
Are you sure it wasn't a misquote? Just what did the bishop say? I could find nothing on the cdob.org site referring to the border wall. What does the bishop want us to do about this?
Isn't it nice to know you are in favor of the Bishop when he sees like you see. My how views can change. Look what Bridge said....
FOR YOUR INFO:
THE PASTOR'S HOMILY WAS VERY GOOD AS ALWAYS....STOP READING INTO THINGS.
Thank you kanickers for drawing attention to the bishop's remarks about the wall which were in Saturday's paper. And thank you, bishop Pena, for speaking out agaisnt the wall. It was great to see this article. This is the kind of leadership we need from our church - bringing justice issues to the forefront and raising awareness. I wish we could hear this sort of thing being the subject of homilies at our parish.
HEY SCREAMER! Tell us about that "very good as always" homily. I gotta hear this!
to the good catholic:
I go to Mass to be closer to my God and not criticize others. Maybe you should start listening to your heart and there you will find God instead of using your mouth to blaspheme our pastor and his homilies.
ALCAPS
HOW ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING CATHOLIC EDUCATION AND STOP THINKING ONLY ON THE POLITICAL PICTURE.
To anonymous 11:50 am.
Sure wish you would use your names.
I too go to mass to worship our God. To find peace, love, understanding and forgiveness.
You ask us not to criticze..to start listening with our hearts and not to blaspheme our pastor or his homilies.
CRITICZE ,,1. to find fault with, to examine critically, to express judgment about.
Sounds just like what you are also doing. Sometimes we can not see because of the splinter in our own eyes.
Just asking You to listen to your heart.
AL: Louey isn't God; you can't blaspheme him.
TO CHAYO: YOU WROTE:
Sure wish you would use your names.
I WOULD IF GLADLY ID MYSELF ONE DAY AND YOU WILL BE SURPRISED. I SEE YOU VERY OFTEN AND I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOUR ACTIONS. ALLOW ME TO SEE THAT FORGIVENESS IN YOU, BECAUSE IT IS NOT DISPLAYED WHEN I SEE YOU....
J.J.R.
Alcaps:
How can you accuse us of not listening to our hearts? What else is there to do at the time of the homily? If only somebody would, or could, give a coherent, well thought out, clearly spoken, deeply felt homily, we could listen to that too!
Margaret
MARGARET WROTE:
Alcaps:
How can you accuse us of not listening to our hearts? What else is there to do at the time of the homily? If only somebody would, or could, give a coherent, well thought out, clearly spoken, deeply felt homily, we could listen to that too!
Margaret
WELL MARGARET DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB? I HAVE HEARD SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON DIFFERENT THINGS AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT I AM NOT IMPRESSED. I AM NOT ACCUSING ANYONE, I AM MERELY SUGGESTING. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE MARGARET AND YOU JUST DO NOT GET IT. YOU ACCUSE AND POINT FINGERS, WE SUGGEST. WE EACH HAVE OUR OWN OPINIONS AND WE FEEL THAT WE ENJOY THE HOMILIES AT OUR CHURCH OF HS. INSTEAD OF FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO AT THE TIME OF THE HOMILY, FIND A CHURCH THAT THE HOMILY FITS YOU AND THEN YOU WON'T NEED TO WONDER WHAT YOU ARE TO DO. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT YOU TAKE FROM THE HOMILY WHAT YOU NEED AND IF THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED THEN ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ALMIGHTY AND THAT IS PRAYER IN ITSELF.
I RECALL GETTING DISTRACTING BY YOU MANY TIMES IN THE AREAS OF STANDING WHEN NOT SUPPOSE TO, TAKING PHOTOS AND JUST PLAIN SIMPLY ANNOYING OUR PASTOR WITH SUCH WICKED ACTIONS. WE HAD TO TOLERATE ALL THAT AND NOW YOU ARE COMPLAINING. GET WITH IT AND FORGET IT. USE PRECIOUS TIME TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, ONE DAY WILL COME WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND SEE THE WASTED TIME YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN LIFE.
ALCAPS
To JJR
Forgiveness?? Actions??
I think you misunderstood me. I ask God for forgivess and I know that I receive it because of my actions.
And may I ask what actions do you speak of? Will i get an answer? I wonder, I never have so far.
And as for an ID. I think you just did. And guess what, I am not surprised.
See you soon of that I am sure.
Well, well, well, if they would only print our comments then and only then would we be able to id ourselves, but you are right Chayo,
you do know who we are and it is so sad to see the actions against our pastor and bishop taking place.
We can and only pray for you and the others. At first we thought it would work as we saw you people coming to our evening prayer but now we hold two prayers, one inside and one outside, which continues to show a division and split in the parish. We do wish you could join us and come together as one. It only answers speaks to us that you people are not ready to join us and that you do not appreciate our type of prayer.
Relative of J.J.R.
Relative of JJR...
You are right. We don't appreciate your kind of night prayer. A 7 minute quickie? No silence, no singing...You should have joined us for the last ten years or so as we really prayed and sang every song! So you kick us out without talking to us or giving us the courtesy of a conversation and then you pretend to offer us hospitality that we do not take? Give me a break! That is the attitude that started all of this!
Relative of J. R. R. write:
“At first we thought it would work as we saw you people coming to our evening prayer.”
And
“We do wish you could join us and come together as one.”
I, too, was hoping that Night Prayer would be a place where we could begin the process of coming together as one parish community.
The combination of scripture, song, and silent prayer that we have used for the past ten years, offers me a time of peace and prayer that I treasure. I appreciate that the form of night prayer that you use on Wednesday evenings fulfills this need for you; however, the 5 or 6 minute service in the chapel uses scripted prayers read from a program, and songs that are chanted because there isn’t always music (at least that was the case on the evenings I attended). If that form of Night Prayer brings you closer to the Lord in prayer, that’s great, and I respect that; however, that is not a form of prayer for me. That doesn’t make me a bad Catholic or divisive. It simply means that I choose a different form of prayer--one that is equally "Catholic."
As to why we meet outside…that’s clear. We’ve been denied a place to meet inside the church or chapel. (And yes, we have asked for permission.) The “silver lining” to being denied a place in the parish is that it really is very nice to meet outside in the evening—it’s cool, and there is usually a nice breeze. It is a very peaceful and enjoyable way to spend an evening of prayer.
In hopes of coming together in peace and unity, I extend an invitation to you to join us on Wednesday evenings. We don’t meet in protest or anger. We meet in prayer and peace—we almost always have an extra chair or two on hand…just in case you would like to join us in taking a step toward unity.
To Bridget,
Thank you for writing. As far as joining and accepting your invitation it is very difficult with some of the people who are in your group. We have heard them downgrade people of our parish and we simply do not want to take part in that at all. If they would be kind and show some concern for our bishop and pastor then maybe we could join but until that happens we are not able to join. Being with your group does not allow us to be prayerful and peaceful, so we choose to be part of the parish prayer groups. It never stops, Mr. Guy Hallman continues mock people like his article in the Monitor. He does the same with our pastor and bishop. So tell me Bridget, who wants to be in the company of so much negative statements and actions.
relative of J.R.R.
Tell you what, relative of JRR, tell us the day you are going to our outside night prayer and I won't go. But you'd better show that night or I'll turn some of that mocking wit on you! ;-) And it is DR Guy Hallman, if you please!
ps: so you are okay with the war profiteering?
To ALCAPS, J J R and to the relative of J J R, to anonymous,1,2,3 and to all those who continue to give judgement, opinion, their truth, but refuses to allow us the same.
Now Bridget has extended her hand in prayer and has invited anyone who wishes to join us on Wed. at 9:00pm for evening prayer. Instead of coming and seeing for herself or himself what and who we are all about, excuses are made. Well I do not feel peaceful around some of you. I do not feel peaceful around some people either, but at least I try. Is that not what being a part of God"s Church means? Does God expect us to be carbon copies of each other? I think not.
Even Peter and Paul did not always agree on everything. They would disagree and learn and would then come to a better understanding of each other and what each one of their roles were to be in this church. Does Jesus expect any less from us?
So let me also invite you or anyone else to come and pray with us. To listen to each other in prayer and song. To share this great love that Christ has for all of us. To come to see the face of Christ in each other. Even as difficult as this may be at times. " Come follow me for I will you peace." Is that not what Christ does?
Hope to see you, Guy and anyone else who wishs to be a part of our evening prayer.
God's Grace to all,
Chayo, you are very kind and loving as always and your words ring true. As for myself, if the relative of JJR does not want me at evening prayer, as a good Catholic I will make the sacrifice and not go so that relative can feel more comfortable. Relative, what say you? When can the others expect you?
In case people don't know what JJR Relative is talking about, following is Hallman's letters plus all comments about it in the Monitor Sunday:
War proponets have nothing to lose
To the editor:
What is it with the naysayer’s claiming that the war in Iraq is a failure? They obviously have no military or foreign experience. The war in Iraq has made millionaires out of well-connected Republican apparatchiks, an outstanding success for all of them. And none had to sacrifice one hair of a son or daughter in this extremely profitable war. Dick Cheney’s Halliburton subsidiary, KBR, takes the cake although there are hundreds of contractors like them. They assemble long convoys of “sailboat fuel,” meaning they run trucks up and down Iraq empty to bilk us taxpayers. They set fire to trucks with flat tires because it is easier than changing them and then charge us inflated prices for new trucks. They build shoddy structures that fall apart before they are completed but charge us as if it was the Taj Mahal. They give our military sons and daughters in Iraq (yes, my son was there) dirty water and rotten food while charging us five-star restaurant prices. That is, if they do anything! Billions and billions of dollars (kids, can you count to a billion?) have simply been lost with no trace and nothing to show for it with some ending up in al-Qaida’s hands. Oh, to have been a drinking buddy of George Bush! They will be set up at least through the third generation while our descendants will be paying for their easy and outlandish profits for generations to come. Their children will not want for the best education, any medical care they desire, safety in their guarded mansions, or the most expensive exotic pleasures, and like George Bush; they won’t have to work an honest day in their lives. What about your children? Mission accomplished, indeed!
Guy Hallman
-----
Read September issue of RollingStone magazine enlighting piece on war profiteering National Affairs The Great Iraq Swindle From phony bids to invoicing orgies how Bush allowed an army of for profit contractors to invade the US treasury
R Gonzalez - Sep 09, 2007 02:04:52 PM
Regarding Hallman's letter, yes, it all depends on what you mean by success. And for war profiteers this has been a very successful war. Not for the rest of humanity, though.
Semper Fi - Sep 09, 2007 09:43:37 AM
Give me a break! It was alright for untrue things to be said about all the former staff and Fr. Jerry and who said what and who did what and who was a heretic, etc.....but because they challenge the truth from the pastor and the bishop that is wrong and prevents you from praying with them? What do you think the penitential rite is for? How can you celebrate Eucharist with them in the same company then? How do you think they feel about the lies being told about them and having the biggest liar standing in front of them celebrating Mass? Thank God we can separate the message from the messenger! So, at least now you are being honest, you are admitting that you don't want to pray with them because they disagree with you. So sad, and to think we all prayed together before. Too bad the powers to be couldn't bring in a facilitator so that you could find out the truth. I would hate to be one of your children....bet they are afraid to disagree with you because you might turn your love off. Thank God that God's love is greater than all this.
To Mr. Guy Hallman,
At least I called you Mr. and not so out of the way name like you do to our pastor and bishop. I do have some respect even though I am tired of hearing you around HS.
J.R.R.'s relative
Sorry to Mr. Guy Hallman for taking my words incorrectly. I was not pointing a finger at you but of the negative that comes from some of the group members. I guess if the shoe fits, wear it.
Relative of J.R.R.
Thank you Chayo, but no thank you. I wish to be at the prayer that the church sponsors.
I will pray for you.
J.R.R.
“Relative” said
“…it is very difficult with some of the people who are in your group. We have heard them downgrade people of our parish and we simply do not want to take part in that at all.”
With all due respect, there has been plenty of “downgrading” to go around. If each “side” waits until the other behaves the way the other thinks it should, we’ll never get together as a parish. Joining together in prayer gives us an opportunity to come together despite the differences that we have. It really is high time that we all become more tolerant of each other’s views and opinions.
You want compliance and complete obedience, but I feel that the gospel demands that those who perpetuate injustice are called to accountability. Believe it or not, there really is room in Catholicism for both—even when those being held accountable wear clerical collars. I appreciate that this is a difficult thing for you to agree with; however, that is exactly my point. We really don’t have to agree—the Church has room for both of us, and we, as good Catholics, should follow the Church’s example, and be open to the notion that there really is room at the table for all.
Once again, I extend an invitation to join us (including Guy) for evening prayer.
Dear JRR relative:
If you are tired of hearing me at HSP you know what you can do, for I am not going anywhere. Yeah, go ahead and 'pray' for me if you want, although it would be better if you prayed WITH me and the rest of us. We do the prayer Jesus sponsors, not some 7 minute canned quickie with no real participation of the faithful. Try it sometime; we tried your's.
You know, Relative, there is another thing about you that bothers me. You define yourself as a relative of JJR and sometimes you write JRR. Well, JJR or JRR is an unknown, so you are the unknown relative of an unknown entity. You don't even have your own pen name, but are a relative of a pen name! And you do not even take the care to be consistent: is it JJR or JRR? How do you expect me to take you seriously?
At some point when an anonymous person is not adding to a dialogue one has to ignore them because you don't know if it is simply some prankster with no relation to the topic. You could be a punk in Singapore with nothing to do but surf the net. How would I know?
"Christian, pray for thyself."
Good words.
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