"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." - Chesterton

Today we attended the deaconate ordinations for 13 new permanent deacons in our diocese.

As I was heading off to work from the church, I noticed that the back of the sign with the parish name on it said "Now entering mission territory."

Something so simple yet so easily forgotten by Catholics in these days of relativistic religion. Every parish should have one of these!

Fr. Todd started blogging while he was discerning his vocation and continued after he was ordained. Two days ago Fr. Todd was killed in a boating accident. 

If you have any doubts about the impact of a holy priest, read the comments on this post. Leave your condolences as well. 

Okay, this is almost entirely off topic but a post over at Jimmy Akin's site made me want to bring this up for discussion.

The title of this post is in reference to a song by Restless Heart bemoaning the fact that cheating on your spouse is a black and white issue.

What I would like to discuss here is why in Country music you find not only in the same genre but even by the same singer songs that at one turn praise faith (Jesus Take the Wheel, Carry Underwood), family (Another Day in Paradise, Phil Vasser) and patriotism (Politically Uncorrect, Gretchen Wilson (oops)) and the next praise infidelity (Victoria's Secret, Toby Keith), drunkeness (Get Drunk and be Somebody, Toby Keith), murder (Earl Had to Die, Dixie Chicks or Independence Day, Martina McBride) or ambivilence about abortion (Red Rag Top, Tim McGraw) - Thanks for correcting the title, Charlotte.

Is this pure pandering to the public? Sing about as many things as possible so that everyone will like something you sing? For example, Kenny Chesney sings "Who You'd Be Today" with a video that includes a gothic church, a St. Christopher medal, and themes, albiet Evangelical ones, about Heaven. He also sings "Anything But Mine" about having sex with some girl he met at the beach during the summer and saying "I love you" without meaning it.

Is this an Evangelical strain in Country music singers who figure that they are "saved" so they can sing about whatever they want because they're going to Heaven anyway?

Any thoughts on this?

Update: Jimmy Akin, Cowboy Apologist, has posted a long and thoughtful response here.

My Wife: “Grandpa had to clean the pool last week because it was full of algae.”

Me: “Do you think he was scared of the sharks in the pool?”

Lucy (7): “No!”

My Wife: “Maybe he was scared of the jelly fish.”

Lucy: “No!”

Me: “Why not?”

Lucy: “Because swimming pools have chlorine and sea animals don’t like chlorine.”

Well, fine if you want to get technical. :-p

Thank you for visiting the Aquinas and More blog this week for the Catholic Carnival. Let's take a browse around the store and see what's new.

Prayer and Spirituality

In the Prayer and Spirituality section we have a post from Deep Furrows on Ignatian Spirituality. We also have two new entries on going to Mass. The Bearing Blog asks "How come people only complain about my kids at Mass when my husband is gone?" We contribute The Liturgical Express for bishops who want to take good liturgy with them around the diocese. And Tom Reagan has started a series of reflections on Praying the Rosary.

Current Events
Under Current Events we get the happy news that soon you will be able to visit Planned Parenthood in between grabbing a bite to eat at the food court and shopping for hooker clothes at the local Victorias Secret. Along the same lines we have some thoughts on The Condom, The Crescent and The Cross from Purcell's Chicken Voluntary.

We also have some reflections on Murdering in God's Name and the Rambling Soccer Mom talks about the missing Grail from DaVinci's Last Supper. Professor Bainbridge also has thoughts on the Da Vinci Code and the heresies involved in "Jesus Christ as a Poached Egg?".

And for those interested in immigration we have some thoughts on Coming to America from Ales Rarus.

We also have a couple of announcements about the God Blog Con for 2006 and a New Vocations Blog.

For those who want to take a deep look into Catholic Media and where it needs to head, please read Quo Vadis? over at Disciples with Microphones.

Christian Living

Finally, our Christian Living section has a boatload of new items this week. Under the heading of "In but not Of" we have a post on the role of Faith at work by Herb Ely, Investing as a Catholic by the Hadleys, and a reflection from Elisabeth Lesseur on personal responsibility at Living Catholicism.

We also have reflections on the role of the Holy Spirit in Christian Love over at Heart, Mind and Strength and on the parenting front we offer Following Mary's Example by the Castle of the Immaculate and What do We Pass on to Our Children? over at My Domestic Church.

And my wife has written a post about trying to sell a house and find a home. 

Thanks for stopping in to visit! Come back soon!

Oh, and if you haven't visited this week's Carnival of Family Life, check it out.

"There is a case for telling the truth; there is a case for avoiding the scandal; but there is no possible defense for the man who tells the scandal, but does not tell the truth." - Chesterton

I saw a headline today claiming that Fr. Maciel had been abusing seminarians for 50 years. The editor missed that the accusations are from 50 years AGO, not for 50 years.

Pray for Fr. Maciel and the Legionaires of Christ.

Okay, first, if you haven't been to Open Book on this topic. Go.

Next, go to the Ratzinger Fan Club for their comprehensive collection of articles on the Da Vinci Code.

Next, buy some material to educate yourself off-line.

Next, my thoughts on the matter that I had expressed to others but hadn't seen online are now there:

Catholic writer Mark Shea tells an anecdote about a college bull session among students at Central Washington University over The Da Vinci Code. “Even if it’s just fiction,” a student opined, “it’s still interesting to think about.”

To which another student replied: “Your mother’s a whore.” And then, to the first student’s stunned incredulity, he added, “And even if that’s just fiction, it’s still interesting to think about.”

Finally, take out your frustration and sign up for the so dark the con of dan contest.

And completely off topic but noteworthy nevertheless, wish Julie, the Happy Catholic, a Happy Anniversary!