What do Catholics believe happened at the Cross and Resurrection?

On the way home from the coffee shop this morning I was listening to a discussion of death and judgement by two Catholics. Frankly, I can't imagine why Catholics even talk about Jesus--the Christian life and faith seem to be one of pleading, pleasing, payment and purgatory. I'm not sure what they think happened on the cross, but whatever it was, it wasn't good enough to have the assurance in this life of eternal life. There is a rule for absolutely everything, and the church has written and defined the rule based on the flimsiest scriptural evidence.

I agree with Mr. Obama!

Catching the ABC interview this morning, I found one thing on which we agree. It is offensive, very offensive, for some Christians to question his faith. He's offended, and so am I. I don't like it at all when "holier than thou" Christians question why I'm not a dispensationalist, or why I'm a 6 day creationist, or why I don't support the death penalty based on my faith. Who are you to judge? Jesus' work on the Cross on our behalf is about salvation, not about agreeing on the theological details. Jesus was apolitical, and the only stake he has in this election is how Christians behave themselves. It's ugly all around.

Have you ever read his testimony? I'd match it against most members in any one of the mainline Protestant churches and many evangelical. (I saw it at a UCC site.) Whenever I meet a new person at my church, the chances are 99.9% that they aren't a convert, they are a transfer. We Christians are making little impact because we just keep trading off our members. We are to be presenting our testimony not to amuse ourselves or increase memberships, but to make converts. If you don't like that, take it up with Jesus Christ.

Mr. Obama and Mr. Jindal are both the face of America, one whose father and extended family was/is Muslim and the other whose family is/was Hindu. Both are converts to Christianity and have achieved political power in our times that almost couldn't have been believed 10 years ago. I side with Jindal on his conservative politics, but I'm thrilled both are going to be in heaven with me. I'm in this for the long haul, not for November 2008. There will be no political rancor there; only worship.

Will you see your pet in heaven?

This is a great concern to many people, particularly the elderly who have been cared for and comforted by the companionship of a cat or dog or bird or other animal. Often it is the act of caring for and protecting the animal that helps the human. Our kitty brings us a lot of enjoyment, but she also brings out the best of our caring instincts and behaviors. Sometimes we just chuckle watching her sleep--the picture of absolute relaxation and not a care in the world. This is one of the better answers I've seen for this question.

The photo of the 3-legged shepherd mix and the mutt cat was found at Dog Friendly.com Somebody loves them a lot and I'm betting the animals return the favor.

Observing All Hallows' Eve

Although Halloween looks pagan, especially considering the slutty costume you can buy for $30 to make your 5 year old daughter look like a slutty prostitute, its origins are Christian according to Fisheaters website:

The Vigil of All Hallows' ("Hallows' Eve," or "Hallowe'en") came, in Irish popular piety, to be a day of remembering the dead who are neither in Purgatory or Heaven, but are damned, and these customs spread to many parts of the world. Thus we have the popular focus of Hallowe'en as the reality of Hell, hence its scary character and focus on evil and how to avoid it, the sad fate of the souls of the damned, etc.

How, or even whether, to celebrate Hallowe'en is a controversial topic in traditional circles. One hears too often that "Hallowe'en is a pagan holiday" -- an impossibility because "Hallowe'en," as said, means "All Hallows' Evening" which is as Catholic a holiday as one can get. Some say that the holiday actually stems from Samhain, a pagan Celtic celebration, or is Satanic, but this isn't true, either, any more than Christmas "stems from" the Druids' Yule, though popular customs that predated the Church may be involved in our celebrations (it is rather amusing that October 31 is also "Reformation Day" in Protestant circles -- the day to recall Luther's having nailed his 95 Theses to Wittenberg's cathedral door -- but Protestants who reject "Hallowe'en" because pagans used to do things on October 31 don't object to commemorating that event on this day)."

On All Saints Sunday, which this year is November 4 (first Sunday after All Hallows'/All Saints Day, Nov. 1) our church remembers/memorializes the Church Triumphant, saints of the church in heaven, by reading the names turned in by members. The other day while delivering the intercampus mail, I picked up a stack of cards so the names of my deceased family members and friends (the saints) could be read at the 8:30 service at Lytham Road. Then I noticed the cards are for Mill Run services. So forgive me, dear ones, if I scribble on your cards. It's the thought. . .