From a female Catholic employment lawyer: Misin…

From a female Catholic employment lawyer:

Misinterpretation of secular law is probably the least of your worries right now, but your “stunned” reader is wrong about “Wrong #1″(see post below). (Although on everything else, I pretty much agree with him/her.)

The law doesn’t prohibit consensual sexual relationships in the workplace, even if between bosses and their employees, as the many lawyers who’ve “pronged” each other, their paralegals, and their secretaries very well know. Sometimes they even end up getting married.

The law does prohibit sexual harassment (non-consensual sexual behavior in the workplace) and does give rights to the co-workers who missed out on legitimate work-related opportunities because they either were not “offered the chance” to be harassed or because they rejected the unwanted sexual behavior.

However, if the co-workers lost out on these opportunities because they were not parties to a consensual workplace sexual relationship, they have no legal claim whatsoever. The courts call that “favoritism.” Poor management, yes, but not illegal.

And you thought Canon Law was technical!

I enjoy your blog.

This is a continuation of the 73 Steps to Spiritua…

This is a continuation of the 73 Steps to Spiritual Communion with God. The previous posts are below and in the archives to the right. This is the 35th step:

(35) Not to be given to wine (cf Ti 1:7; 1 Tm 3:3).

Have you ever said and meant, “boy I need a drink”? This is exactly what St. Benedict is counseling us not to be given to…needing a drink. Benedict and of course Jesus both drank wine. It was a part of the daily meals of both. But what Benedict is counseling us against is feeling that we “need” an alcoholic drink to get by. Of course if we follow this counsel than what do we do, when we are having one of “those days”?

Turn to God. The very elements of a day that leaves us stressed out, are the items that we need to let go of in our prayer. Of course we need to turn to God before our day ever gets to the point of “needing a drink” to anesthetize ourselves.

Everything is given for our use in life and has a purpose. Wine has been shown to be a very healthy part of the diet of people who drink in moderation on a regular basis. But like every good, too much is not good.

If God is the Supreme Being, then we will approach the goods of this life with the right attitude. This would apply to all beverages from coffee, colas, and beer.

In regard to wine, which in the Eucharist becomes the Blood of Christ–we should ever desire to quench our thirst from the True Vine.

The stigmatic priest who has been on tour of the U…

The stigmatic priest who has been on tour of the US left with a message that has upset some. I notice in the story that he was under the spiritual care of Father Andrew Apostoli while in the States. I’ll have to see if Father Andrew can give me any other details that I can pass on to you. From the New York Post:

“I know there are many evil people who want to take a piece of this land away from you. Be very strong,” he repeated several times at the outdoor Mass. “Be careful this summer.”

“I am offering this Holy Mass for the protection of this land, your buildings, your airports, bridges, tunnels, your air and your sea,” Sudac said at the beginning of the three-hour service.

He also added, “God does permit things during certain seasons.” He did not elaborate.



Also read Rod Dreher’s comments about Sudac in the Corner. A very moving story.

Finally, a day where the temperature will be over …

Finally, a day where the temperature will be over 70 degrees–dare we hope that Summer is here.

From the Lighter Side:

A couple goes on vacation to a fishing resort in northern Minnesota.

The husband likes to fish at the crack of dawn. The wife likes to read. One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a short nap. Although she isn’t familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat.

She motors out a short distance, anchors, and continues to read her book. Along comes the game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside her and says, “Good morning Ma’am. What are you doing?”

“Reading my book,” she replies, thinking “isn’t that obvious?”

“You’re in a restricted fishing area,” he informs her.

But officer, I’m not fishing. Can’t you see that?”

“Yes, but you have all the equipment. I’ll have to take you in and write you up.”

“If you do that, I’ll have to charge you with rape,” says the woman.

“But I haven’t even touched you,” says the game warden. “That’s true, but you do have all the equipment.”

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It’s likely she can also think.