Some web browsing.........

Some web browsing for you.........

• A few brave men - Iraqi Catholics risk their lives to join the priesthood and serve their own in a turbulent state.
• Alarm bells are ringing in the Middle East for the fate of Christians
• Fear in the pulpit - Catholic priests face arrest and torture by Robert Mugabe’s secret police masquerading as Massgoers as the dictator’s instruments of repression turn their attention to the Church, branding it an enemy of the state
• Mugabe's communion angers Africa - Tererai Karimakwenda, a human rights activist, wrote for SW radio Africa that “the obligation of the church to accept all sinners, including assassins and dictators, was defended even by those who were disturbed by Mugabe’s visit. But it was the warm welcome extended to the leader of the ZANU PF that caused the greatest outcry”
• Three priest-martyrs of Nazi's beatified in Germany.
• Advice on how to stay married - say I do but mean I'll be.
• Archbishop Nichols reminds us that "Liturgy is not ours.Its not a form of self expression....."
• John Allen at NCR looks at "the new Crown Prince of Catholicism".
• Ever wonder how much the Vatican earns in a year? Positive financial report for Vatican.
• Stillsong Hermitage reflects on Loneliness
• Global Catholic reflects on Breaking Bread - "One of the most important aspects of the Eucharist is the way that it helps us to re-imagine the boundaries that separate us from them. War creates unity among us by sharply dividing us from the enemy; we are defined by national boundaries that set us into potential opposition against those who stand outside those borders. In the Eucharist, on the other hand, we are incorporated into a much larger, transnational body, the Body of Christ, which transgresses national borders."
• The Anchoress asks is the root of all sin selfishness?
• Should there be a place in care of the elderly for the spiritual? - The report released by the Dilnot Commission on Funding of Care and Support sets out the need for the financial reform of the social care system in the UK. Coupled with the recent findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission with regard to the home care of elderly, it seems as if social care in the UK needs to take a new direction. Angela Kitching describes a crucial element in the Japanese social care system which could make a difference in the UK – what is ikigai?
• Mary Craig writes about her second son Paul, diagnosed with ‘gargoylism’, in an extract from The Death of a Child - The suffering son who gave me so much
• A blogosphere discussion that arose during the week around clapping during Mass - two alternative views from Deacon Greg and the Anchoress with a different view point from Googling God.
• A bishop reminds us that despite being locked behind bars, prisoners are still part of our Church.
• Poor does not mean stupid 
• Why do we need to canonize more lay saints?
• Deacon Greg notes that thanks to Facebook, many of us have more friends than we know. But how can thousands of friendships be meaningful?