7 Quick Takes Friday (set #156)

7 Quick Takes Friday

This week: The latest issue of New Evangelists Monthly awaits your perusal. A post-election look at racism. Another excellent video from the Chosen faith formation course. Jeff Harris illustrates the Catholic faith at Sword of Peter. A black bear in an unusual predicament. One neighborhood sees fighting break-out in the street (it’s not Ferguson).

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New Evangelists Monthly

Issue #23, November 2014, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from October.

We are blessed this month with a record number of clergy and religious bloggers! Among the (excellent, all) contributing authors are 8 priests (including a monsignor of whom I am a HUGE fan), a deacon and 3 sisters. Thank you all: Phoebe Wise, Tracy Smith, Chris Capolino, Monica McConkey, Lawrence Fox, Adam Crawford, Christian LeBlanc, Dn. Scott Dodge, Kevin Shaw, Cindy Hurla, Fr. David Berger, Matthew Plese, Melanie Jean Juneau, Michael Seagriff, Sarah Thèrése, Lisa Ponchak, De Maria, Shannon Vandaveer, Virginia Lieto, Adam Shaivitz, Elizabeth Kabacinski, Rich Maffeo, Timothy McCormick, Tony Agnesi, David Torkington, Laura McAlister, Sr. Margaret Obrovac, Grace Pippin, Debbie Gaudino, Ishmael Alighieri, Fr. Denis Lemieux, Katie O’Keefe, Birgit Jones, Catherine Adair, Julian Barkin, Nancy Ward, Jim Curley, Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah, Barbara Hosbach, Fr. Ben Hadrich, Liana Eisenman-Wolford, Mary Beth Brummond, Mary Mendenharrell, Tom Perna, Bartimaeus Timeo, George Sipe, John Donaghy, Blythe Kaufman, Christina Sawchuk, Laura Pearl, Nancy Shuman, Ellen Gable Hrkach, Anabelle Hazard, Rick Becker, John Schroeder, Denise Hunnell, Katherine Scott, Roxane Salonen, Laura Kazlas, Jamie Jo, Steve Smith, Fr. Errol Fernandes, Matthew Rose, Margaret Felice, Stacy Cash, Mallory Hoffman, Billie Jo Stoltz, Barbara Szyszkiewicz, Paul Smith, Leslie Klinger, Brian Gill, Bonnie Way, Kathryn Cooper, Liam Ferguson, Fr. Ian Hellyer, Jennifer Lawrence, Rita Buettner, Brantly Millegan, Sr. Maresa Lilley, Dianna Kennedy, Heidi Knofczynski, Justin Soutar, Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Rose O’Donnell, Tonya Martin, Anita Moore, Jeff Walker, Sr. Marie Walsh, Christine, Allison DeWolf, Deanna Babineau, Daniel Ang, Msgr. Charles Pope, Annie Jeffries, Jenn Tatum, Kimberly Lynch and Tami Schuelke.

This monthly “meta-magazine” showcases faithful Catholicism from theology to family life and “everything in between.” Enjoy it now at NewEvangelists.org. (Past issues are online and also available as free eBook downloads.)

Read Now

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RACIST. Now that the mid-term elections are over, let’s talk about this. To be honest, words fail me to adequately express how I feel about someone’s belief that others, fully equal in human dignity in the eyes of God, are lesser souls because of their skin color. It seems to me that to call someone a racist is to judge them in a most serious manner. What is more, upon a little reflection, those who do so – objectively viewed – may want to reflect a tad more upon themselves and their motives in this charge that should transcend politics.

Where I stand, liberals and conservatives are EQUAL in their intent toward humanity, all their brothers and sisters. They differ very deeply in how to achieve what, at the end of the day, is the same thing.

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Where are we going? What is our journey? What are we looking for? This is the introductory video for the Ascension Press Chosen faith formation course.

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Jeff Harris at Sword of Peter is a talented illustrator who presents Catholic life and issues with creativity. One beautiful example:

Sword Of Peter Roots

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Leo Wong has put together an extensive collection of quotations by well-known converts. It is inspiring stuff! Why would anybody join the Catholic Church??? Read it at From American Converts.

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This guy found a black bear in a cornfield, trapped in a milk can. Other than tranquilizing the bear, this was probably the safest way to help. The story is here.

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The futility of fighting – here, one breaks-out on a residential street between two locals. They punch and kick-box. Nothing is settled. It goes on and on and on.


Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!


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