Father John Carville on Rome During Vatican II This Sunday Night

Father John Carville will be the Parousians' special guest this Sunday at 8pm when he shares his memories of being a student in Rome during Vatican II and elaborates on the continuity between the popes of the Council (John XXIII and Paul VI) and the popes of our lifetime (John Paul II and Benedict XVI.) Call Ryan Hallford for directions to Mary Grace Westphal, Fay Thibodeaux, and Sarah Berard's apartment (601 East Campus Apartments)at (504) 952-0247. Please come and bring a friend.

Of Course They Don't Go There: Planned Parenthood's Vox Responds to Emily Byers

"Sex is no longer sacred. Tragically, many of us are stunned to hear anyone claim it ever was.

Thankfully an alternate view exists, one which holds that our sexual nature speaks staggering truths about who we are, about the human capacity for relationship, intimacy and participation in the creation of new life.

That's heavy stuff. No wonder Planned Parenthood and its pro-choice confederates are afraid to go there."

And Parousian Emily Byers was right, but the Vox officers felt compelled to speak out anyway.

Columnist was wrong about PPFA

Wednesday Audience

From Founding Parousian Member Caleb Bernacchio:

At the today's Wednesday Audience the Holy Father spoke about a text from the Gospel of St Matthew, which spoke of Judas' betrayal of Jesus, his subsequent guilt and suicide.

Pope Benedict, summarizing his speech, given in Italian, to the English speaking pilgrims, said that different theologies have tried to explain the motivation that lead to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas but, the Pope said, the gospels tell us that Judas gave in to the temptation of the Evil One. He said it is surprising to many that someone who lived so closely with Jesus could betray him. But, he emphasised, Christ respects our freedom, and does not force our will. He leaves us free to seek complete happiness in a life of complete obedience to the Father, a life of following Christ.


Incidentally, the Bishop who announced the Pilgrims from English speaking countries, mentioned a group from Assumption Parish in Franklin, LA. Assumption Parish is the home parish of the renowned Luke Ordogne's mother.

Curt Jester Cites Emily Byers and the Parousians

Unhappy Anniversary

The clown prince of Catholic commentary critiques one of Emily's critics:

"You just got to enjoy those bumper sticker platitudes like "Don't like abortion - don't have one." Don't like slavery, don't own one. Don't like murder, don't kill anyone. Though what immediately comes to mind is in this commenter's case "Don't like reason, don't use it."

Thanks for the comeback.

Mark Shea Cites Emily Byers and the Parousians Again

Parousian Emily Byers takes on Planned Parenthood

Thanks to preeminent Catholic blogger Mark Shea for recognizing Emily and the Parousians first.

Dawn Eden Cites Emily Byers

Dawn Eden, the beloved Catholic convert, columnist, rock journalist, take-no-prisoners blogger, and author of The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On cites our own Emily Byers as her quote of the day.

She has also added a link to the Parousians blog. Many thanks and tremendous fan support from the Parousians to Dawn Eden.

Maclin Horton Cites the Parousians

Rod Dreher describes Maclin Horton as "a Catholic convert who went from 1960s counterculturalist to faithful orthodox Catholic without ever losing his sense that something was seriously wrong with mainstream American society." Horton has two blogs, and they both recognize the Parousians today. Light on Dark Water deals with faith, literature, and music, while Caelum et Terra (a project with Daniel Nichols, the founder of the magazine of the same name) deals with social concerns. Both are priority stops for anyone surfing the net.

Horton's post from Light on Dark Water:

"What's more depressing than the drunks and joyless libertines who seem to comprise a good percentage of today's college students? What's more heartening than a bright, lively bunch of Catholic students challenging the conventional morbid hedonism? The Parousians are such a group at LSU, doing good things. Here's one of them taking on Margaret Sanger in the LSU student paper. That's nerve. And they have an interesting blog: a look at their links indicates a healthy disregard for some of the unhealthy divisions in the Church: First Things alongside the Catholic Worker. Good for them.

And, all together now: Wouldn't That Be A Good Name For A Band? Or an interesting one, anyway."

Again, many thanks to another role model for his support.

Bishop Robert Finn on the Rosary

October is month of the Rosary: Mary of Victories pray for us!

"In his 2002 letter, the Holy Father recommended the rosary as a contemplative prayer deeply rooted in the Sacred Scriptures. He suggested that we turn to the Bible in the course of our recitation, reading a short or longer portion of God's Word that corresponds to the mystery we reflect on while saying the beautiful prayers, the "Our Father" and the "Hail Mary," which themselves are echoes of Gospel. In this way we unite ourselves more completely not only with the power of the revealed Word, the Scriptures. It also becomes more likely that we will find in this prayer a meaningful coincidence between the mysteries of Christ's life and the dynamics of our own daily spiritual mysteries."

Archbishop Alfred Hughes on the Gospel of Life

The great source of hope for New Orleans' recovery is a passionate rebuilder of the culture of life.

Respect Life Sunday

"Why are the rich so miserable? They are miserable, if they have been unjust; if their ill-gotten gains came from defrauding their employees and ignoring the cries of those who were deprived. Even if their ears have been closed to the cry of their victims, these cries "have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts." Their crying is clear: "You have murdered the righteous one."

The application of this text to those who would contribute to the killing of a child in her mother's womb is frightening. But so, too, is it application to those who refuse to work for the Gospel of Life. There are those who would choose political expediency over the life of the unborn child. There are those who would attend to their own comforts when defenseless children need their support. There are those who consider the Gospel of Life an abstraction, not a personal responsibility. There are those who never visit their parents or listen to their children. There are those who would never work for a just penal system and the elimination of the unnecessary execution of those condemned to capital punishment. There are those who would never grapple with the moral dimensions of war or embryonic stem cell research. So God asks us today: Do you; do we work for the Gospel of Life?

Some would ask: What is the worst sin? Murder; apostasy? Christ has indicated that the greatest sin is to lead a "little one" into sin. The "little ones" are Christ's disciples. It is clear from Christ's words that nothing in life is worth more than virtue. Not even my hand, my foot, my eye is worth more than doing what God asks of me. That is why embracing the Gospel of Life is so essential. We cannot lead others into sin by disregarding or rejecting the Gospel of Life."

Archbishop Alfred Hughes on the Gospel of Prosperity

God’s will and human possessions

"In the human effort to respond to this teaching, there is always going to be a tension between greed and generosity. Greed is one of the fundamental ways in which our fallen human nature disorients us. It leads to a desire to amass earthly goods. This can take the form of personal avarice for riches or power. It can also take the social expression of injustice by harming others in order to amass wealth.

On the other hand, generosity leads us to largeness of heart. The widow in Serephta in the time of Elijah who was willing to share her limited flour for food and ended up being able to live more than a year with her son is an example of generosity of heart. The Lord Jesus also drew the attention of his disciples to the widow who placed a small mite in the Temple basket but, in doing so, gave all that she had to live on. In my own experience growing up in a post-Depression period, I marvel now at the sacrificial and generous way in which my parents provided despite the extraordinarily limited income on which we were living.

The experience of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath has presented us with an opportunity to re-look at the way in which we have amassed possessions. We have lost homes, possessions, jobs and a way of life. The Gospel calls us to place God first and to allow everything else to fall into its proper perspective. We have a responsibility to evaluate our approach to possessions and finances in light of the Gospel."

Emily Byers Critiques Planned Parenthood

Emily takes a hard look at the PPFA on the 90 year anniversary of their founding.
Planned Parenthood Denies its Roots

Caleb in Rome, Part 2

From Founding Parousian Caleb Bernacchio:

As promised, to conclude the story. Later on that same day, I went to the address of Haley's friend from New Orleans, who I met 3 days before I left, and waited for him to come out of the gated apartment. He had already offered me a place to stay.

Of notable occurence:

I'm sitting on a computer in an internet shop in Rome and on the TV behind is the world famous Benny Hinn!

But I am happy to report that I found a book edited by Dr. Henderson, and another one that had an essay written by him, in the Leonine Bookstore just outside of St Peter's.

Next Parousian Meeting: Commemoration and Celebration

This Sunday night at 8 pm we will celebrate the 28th anniversary of John Paul II becoming Pope. Tobias Danna will share some very brief comments about John Paul's continuing relevance in our lives, and your testimonials of what John Paul meant to you are encouraged. Afterwards, the party begins, with special attention given to our own Mary Grace Westphal's 20th birthday. Refreshments will be served, and I hear rumors there will be dancing.

The party will be at the apartment complex of Sarah Berard, Mary Grace Westphal, and Fay Thibodeaux. The location is apartment 601 in the East Campus Apartments. The East Campus Apartments are located on the LSU campus near the REC Center and across from East Laville. Appartment 601 is on the first floor in building Six which is in the middle of the ECA Complex. If any further directions are needed call Ryan Hallford, at (504) 952-0247.

Divine Mercy at LSU

Beginning this Friday (10/13) at 3pm, founding Parousian Katie Culotta will be leading a Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Parade grounds. Meet her on the front steps of the Union. Katie is also organizing a nightly Rosary around campus. Contact her for more info at (504) 621-5283.

Announcement: Change in the Parousian Guard at LSU

From founding Parousian Tobias Danna:

I will return to work with FEMA this Monday, taking complaints from disabled applicants who feel they did not receive the help they needed, conducting interviews to determine the legitimacy of the claims, and routing requests to proper channels. The job is high stress, and the hours are long, but the work is noble, and the pay is good and will help us fund some of our bigger vision. Part of this bigger vision is helping start the Parousians of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where initially Ryan Hallford and I will be playing an active role in the coming weeks. Philip de Mahy will be primarily coordinating the LSU meetings from here on, as well as doing much of the posting on the blog. Please give him your full support.

I will not be a complete stranger, but I know in many ways I will be a ghost. I trust this is as it should be, that God is working something out for all our good.

I need your friendship and your prayers, your occasional phone calls and e-mails. I have no reason to doubt you will come through for my sake. Never doubt my trust in you, that the Parousians of LSU will be faithful in doing the work of John Paul's New Evangelization by proclaiming the ever-relevant Truth and Love who is Christ Jesus in the academy.

There are four things I keep needing to say to all of you, and I will never have said them enough. I love you, but not nearly as well as you deserve. Forgive me for the times when I am a royal jerk. Thank you for walking this stretch with me. And may all your fears be cast down as you learn the perfect love of God in your days.

Be God's,
Toby Danna

Emily Byers' Witnessing Hope on Respecting Those Who Serve

Where is our gratitude to our troops?

Archbishop Alfred Hughes on Defending Life

The New Orleans Archbishop says not all areas where Catholics are called to defend the dignity of human life are morally equivalent.

The Gospel of Life revisited

"Whether we address abortion or stem-cell research or human cloning or euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide or violence or racial injustice or war or capital punishment or poverty, the underlying issue is respect for human life. We cannot treat all of these issues as morally equivalent. Each is subject to a different moral analysis. Yet they all impact the sacredness of human life.

For instance, we cannot tolerate the impoverishment of people or the denial of basic health care for them. But there is no one policy or plan that is the only legitimate moral response. Discrimination based on race is intrinsically wrong, but we can legitimately differ on the most effective moral plan to address it. It is wrong to take the life of a criminal for motives of vengeance or in circumstances where the state has other viable alternatives to protect its citizens, but the Church teaches that state-sanctioned executions may, in rare circumstances, still be justified. However, abortion, euthanasia, genocide and pre-meditated murder are always gravely wrong."

Archbishop Donald Wuerl on Faith and American Democracy

The assertion by some that the secular voice alone should speak to the ordering of society and its public policy, that it alone can speak to the needs of the human condition, is being increasingly challenged. Looking around, I see many young men and women who, in such increasing numbers, are looking for spiritual values, a sense of rootedness and hope for the future. In spite of all the options and challenges from the secular world competing for the allegiance of human hearts, the quiet, soft and gentle voice of the Spirit has not been stilled.


"Morality and ethical considerations cannot be divorced from their religious antecedents. What we do and how we act, our morals and ethics, follow on what we believe. The religious convictions of a people sustain their moral decisions.

What is religion’s place in public life? As our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, tells us in his first encyclical letter, “Deus Caritas Est” (God Is Love): “[f]or her part, the Church, as the social expression of Christian faith, has a proper independence and is structured on the basis of her faith as a community which the State must recognize. The two spheres are distinct, yet always interrelated” (DCE 28). Politics, law and faith are mingled because believers are also citizens. Church and state are home to the very same people.

The place of religion and religious conviction in public life is precisely to sustain those values that make possible a common good that is more than just temporary political expediency. Without a value system rooted in morality and ethical integrity, there is the very real danger that human choices will be motivated solely by personal convenience and gain.

To speak out against racial discrimination, social injustice or threats to the dignity of life is not to force values upon society, but rather to call our society to its own, long-accepted, moral principles and commitment to defend basic human rights, which is the function of law."

Archbishop Charles Chaput on Catholics and Public Actions

In mass media and courts, some religions less equal than others. Catholics have the right and the duty to form their public actions guided by their faith

"What’s the lesson here for Catholics? Week in and week out, but especially every two and four years, we hear a pious lecture from critics of religion. The message is always tired, and it’s always the same: Faith is allegedly a private matter, and Catholics shouldn’t “impose their religion” on society at large.

In fact, what we claim to believe, we need to act on both in our private lives and our public choices — and if we don’t act, we make ourselves into liars. Religion has no business endorsing political candidates or parties. But religious believers have every right and the serious obligation to form their social, political and economic decisions guided by their religious faith."

Parousian Mark Duggan on Marketing LSU and Academics

A belated letter to the editor which ran in the October 3 Daily Reveille from Parousian Mark Duggan.