More weather events bring destruction to southeast
Purple Catholic Saturday Post
Good morning and happy Saturday. This week, our brothers and sister in Florida were hit by a massive hurricane and the damage is extensive. While it made landfall as a category 3, it hit Tampa Bay, a major metropolitan area.
Below there are articles about how Catholics in Florida are responding. If you would like to help, I would like to provide the typical PSA reminding you to only support legitimate organizations. Catholic Charities USA is a reputable organization and has set up a relief fund for both Milton and Helene.
In the increasingly depressing and theologically incorrect rooms of Catholic X, some have attempted to make an argument that it was God’s will that Asheville be struck by a major weather event.
Such comments are absurd.
Natural diasters, and indeed any weather event, are morally neutral. They do not have a will or a desire to cause evil. They simply exist as part of the created world.
Additionally, if someone where to claim that one or both of these hurricanes was the result of God’s decision to punish these communities, the burden of proof lies on them to demonstrate this.
“Asheville is a very progressive community that promotes immoral acts.” So does San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York City, Amsterdam, and countless other places on Earth. God has not actively punished those communities and there appears to be nothing going on in Asheville that would strike itself as much different from them either.
These kinds of comments are destructive and harmful. They do nothing other than to steep the speaker in their own pride and put themselves over others. People in these communities, no matter how depraved or debased we may think they are, deserve our prayers and loving support as they rebuild.
If you want people to convert, don’t say “this is what will happen to you if you don’t change.” Show up and show them in person was real Christian love is.
Further reading:
Natural Disasters - Jimmy Aiken’s Daily Defense podcast
Is Covid-19 a punishment from God? - Trent Horn at Catholic Answers
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Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
This week we are entering the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time. This Sunday we will hear readings from Wisdom 7:7-11, Psalm 90, Hebrews 4:12-13, and Mark 10:17-30
Here are some resources to help you prep for the readings this Sunday:
What Do You Ask God For? - Bishop Robert Barron (Winona-Rochester, Minnesota)
Watch: Homily for 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B ( October 13, 2024 ) Mark 10:17-30 ( Eternal Life ! ) - Fr. Mathew Charthakuzhiyil
In the Liturgy of the Hours, we are in Psalter Week IV. In the Office of Readings we are reading St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy.
Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:
Monday, 14 October - Memorial St. Callistus I, pope and martyr (optional)
Tuesday, 15 October - Memorial of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor
Wednesday, 16 October - Memorial of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin (optional) or St. Hedwig, religious (optional)
Thursday, 17 October - Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr
Friday, 18 Octoer - Feast of St. Luke, evangelist
Saturday, 19 October - Memorial of Sts. John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and companions, martyrs
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3
In the news:
Hurricane Milton
Numerous Florida parishes and ministry facilities damaged by hurricane - National Catholic Register
Diocese of Venice responds to Hurricane Milton - Florida Catholic
Biden suggests Trump ‘get a life’ after false hurricane claims - NewsNation
Florida’s home insurer of last resort is in serious trouble. Will Milton put it over the edge? - CNN
The United States
Catholic Charities in San Antonio denies housing members of Venezuelan prison gang - WOAI-TV
Indifference in world affairs is irresponsible - George Weigel in Denver Catholic
The Bible doesn’t fit in an information age - Russell Moore in Christianity Today
Cru (formerly Campus Crusaders for Christ) ending LGBT+ training - WORLD
The Vatican
Pope to Jesuits: Roles for women in the Vatican are changing - Vatican News
Pope gives nods to peripheries and pals in naming 21 new cardinals - Crux
Letters from the Synod - First Things
The World
Catholics now make up 37.4% of Uganda’s population - The Monitor
Have a good weekend,
Matthew