• New Year Resolutions and God?
• The Anglicans are Coming
• Deacon Cuseo: How Come You Do That?
• Why I Became a Catholic
• Why Our Priests Remain Silent
• The Origins of the Synagogue
• additional news and commentary

Subscribe to Dialogue Today Magazine to read the full articles on these topics and other important news and issues in Catholic Jewish relations.

Time is precious.  Yet while our hearts know it, our minds refuse to accept it.  We feel that we are going to live forever.  We say I’m 20, 30, 40, 50, but still have plenty of time. Even when we reach  60, 70, 80, we say we have time.

It is true we are living longer today because of medical advancements.  In fact, card stores have a big selection of birthday cards for people who reach 80, 85, 90, 95 and even 100.  And so we really don’t think of death unless we are seriously ill.

But we should think of death. I don’t mean that we should be obsessed with the idea but should be realistic.  Death is going to happen. And it does come to us at different times – not only when we are advanced in age.

If we occasionally think of death, perhaps we will live a more balanced life. That is, we won’t be preoccupied with making money. Money is fine, but how we get it can be the problem.  Some of us obtain it wisely. Some  don’t. Some people will do anything to make money.  They do illegal things. They cheat friends or relatives out of their rights. They climb the ladder of success over the bodies of co-workers.  One word – GREED – takes over their lives.  They want the monies for many reasons such as power to manipulate people, to buy expensive cars, houses, jewelry, and clothes.

GREED is a terrible obsession and is an offense against God.  Why an offense?  Because God really exists and we are made in His image. We are His children. We should be helping our fellow brothers and sisters. GREED says God is unimportant.  GREED makes us feel that we are a god who controls the world.  GREED makes us feel like the ancient Pharaohs of Egypt who controlled every living person and animal. It distorts us. It makes us ugly.  It twists our brains.  Eventually it causes the loss of real friendships and creates serious marriage problems. It’s like a ship which has lost its anchor.

However, there are many who acquire real wealth and are wonderful people. Sometimes we don’t even realize that they are wealthy. They don’t lord it over people. They live modestly or extremely well but they are balanced. GREED has not taken root in their lives. They use their wealth to help the less fortunate. They sponsor centers for the homeless. They provide scholarships for the disadvantaged.  They support their religious institutions. They do many wonderful things for society. Money has NOT colored their eyes. They  realize that  money can only buy more things but it can’t buy health or happiness.

… Finally, how can we  control GREED in our lives ?  A few ideas will keep us balanced:

1. Death knows no age or gender.

2. Money buys more things but not health, happiness, or true friends.

3. Do we listen to what people say behind our backs ?

4. If God is really in our lives, then we will listen to what He has written in the bible readings.

5. Every week spend at least 15 minutes quietly in the synagogue, mosque or church and let the power of God touch our hearts and guide our brains to what He wants us to do.

Hopefully,  PEOPLE WILL BE SAD WHEN WE DIE RATHER THAN HAPPY WE ARE GONE!

Msgr. Leonard F. Badia, Ph.D.

What a year – 2010! We will never forget it. A year filled with job, pension, housing, and financial losses. Two Wars – Iraq and Afghanistan. A major drop in the Euro currency in Europe. A revolutionary mid-year American election. A Catholic Church in crisis. A rising fear of Islam in Europe and America. Major religions experiencing a drop in attendance at services.

Two words summarize 2010 – FRUSTRATION AND DEPRESSION. And now we enter the year 2011 like the early American pioneers searching for new hopes and visions. Will it happen? It can. It must. How?

As the year 2011 comes in let our New Year resolutions focus on two areas, namely the natural and the spiritual. Actually these two areas are entwined whether we realize or not. God and we are very special people. God is a loving and merciful person despite what some religious fanatics say. We – you and me – are His children and are basically good people. Sometimes we fail. However, many times we succeed to make His earth a better place to live. So let our New Year resolutions be constructive and uplifting. May I suggest these ideas:

The first resolution: To make the world a better and more beautiful place because we live in it. There are many ways to make the world a more beautiful and better place: plant bushes or plants around our homes, bring flowers or stuffed animals to someone in a nursing home, spend quality time with our kids (especially teenagers), send get-well cards to sick people and call friends who live far away.

The second resolution: Stop feeling sorry for ourselves. All of us have suffered the loss of a spouse, a parent, a child or a close friend. Either we can say,”woe is me” or we can move on. How? By getting involved in our synagogues, mosques or church organizations that reach out to the needy and the “lost.” Yes, we must give our time and talents to those who are less fortunate than we. Through our own personal sufferings we will touch these people. Perhaps without us they will give up and choose to end their lives.

In addition to religious organizations, many civil organizations in our communities, such as soup kitchens and homeless shelters, reach out. Join either a religious or civil organization. Give a day or at least a few hours. While we heal others, we heal ourselves.

The third resolution: Take time for our own spiritual welfare.

Attend religious services. If we have drifted, then it is time to come back. Read a spiritual book to discover a new vision of God.

Say a prayer or two everyday to make a personal communication with God.

So these three suggestions for New Year resolutions hopefully will make the year 2011 a better and brighter one than the previous year.

- Msgr. Leonard Badia

December is here and the stores are filled with Hanukkah and Christmas cards, decorations, music, and gift suggestions.  There is an air of joy and peace to all men and women of every walk of life.

While this is all well and good it is possible to forget the real meaning of Hanukkah and Christmas.  I call it – Remembering the MIRACLE.  What is the Miracle for Jews and Christians ?  Every year we get a chance to seriously recall this Miracle in our lives.

For Jews the feast of Hanukkah recalls the fight for religious freedom from the oppression of Antiochus Epiphanies, the Syrian ruler over Judea.  He prohibited the practice of Judaism under pain of death.  He seized the Great Temple in Jerusalem and turned it into a place of pagan worship.  After three years of struggle, Jerusalem was recaptured by the Maccabees.  The Great Temple was cleansed , purified and rededicated to God.  However the lamp called the eternal flame which hung in front of the Ark had only enough oil for one day.  Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, giving the priests enough time to prepare oil for the eternal flame alight without interruption.  THE JEWISH MIRACLE.

For Christians (Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox), the feast of Christmas recalls the fight for their religious freedom from sin and for salvation which is threatened by the Godless worldly values.  God intervenes into their lives.  He sends His Son, Jesus Christ.  They are guaranteed mercy and love from a gentle, kind and understanding God.  Because of their confession of sins they will be forgiven and given the eternal life.

Jesus’ teachings are concrete, striking and living.  Jesus reminds Christians that God’s Kingdom embraces everyone.  There will be no exceptions.

One day he said, “I was sent to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord.”

On another day he said, “People who are healthy do not need a physician; sick people do.  I have come to call sinners, not the self-righteous.”

Jesus is the life line for Christians to God.  A reminder that God is personally involved in their lives.  He cares and loves them.  They are precious to Him.  They have value for Him.  A CHRISTIAN MIRACLE.

And so the MIRACLE we speak of is the reconnection with God for Jews and Christians.  Let us not be clouded by the tinsel and secular ornaments of Hanukkah and Christmas.

It’s so easy to be disconnected from God.  It is not necessarily that we stop believing in God.  We may have been very connected but over the years we got disconnected.  Maybe it was caused by personal tragedies, career ambitions, frustrations of every kind or something else.  When we get disconnected from God, an enormous lose occurs, and a huge vacuum results.  Life becomes unintelligible and unbearable without God.

THIS HANUKKAH AND CHRISTMAS – REMEMBER OUR RELIGIOUS MIRACLE – GET RECONNECTED WITH GOD.

Msgr. Leonard F. Badia, Ph.D.

Is there one?

If you are alive and breathing these days, you see every sign of it. TV programs, talk shows, newspapers and dinner conversations often seem centered on what has been called America’s “Islamophobia.”

The Fall 2010 issue of Dialogue Today magazine is dedicated to Islam. What is this religion? What does it teach? Is it a threat to us as Christians and Jews, or our Western culture? These questions and others must be answered in a fair and accurate way in order that we can truly understand Islam. Fear, hate and suspicion arise firstly from lack of knowledge.

Hopefully, we can ride out the tornado and bring some balance to the picture of a “clash of civilizations” that in very real ways may threaten our safety and even way of life. Let intelligence, and not emotions, rule our thoughts and actions.

It is with deep personal sorrow that I share with you the death of our dear Father Boadt, who has been on our Advisory Board. Fr. Larry, as many called him, joined our staff nine years ago. At that time, we met in a New York restaurant and discussed our Dialogue Today magazine. “Publish the magazine – we need it!” He said. Being a very close friend and an invaluable supporter of our magazine, he will be greatly missed.

A noted Old Testament Scholar, Fr. Larry lectured in many European and American universities. His numerous books and theological articles grace these institutions. For many years he was the president and publisher of Paulist Press.

At the age of 67, God called him home after a long illness, on July 24th.

May the Lord God welcome him home and give him the Eternal Life.

- Msgr. L. F. Badia, Publisher and Editor

We are in the process of redesigning our magazine. We want to make it more readable and attractive to our readers. This spring/summer issue is bigger and has some new features such as red headlines and pictures.

The main article for the fall issue will be on Islam. We will go in deep to better understand the Islam religion and Muslims. Let us know what areas you want us to investigate.

2. Some people are kind, polite, and sweet until you try to sit in their
pews.

3. Many people want to serve God, but only as advisors.

4. When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there.

5. Quit griping about your synagogue or church: if it was perfect, you
couldn’t belong.

6. People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the
road, and the back of the synagogue or church.

7. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

8. Don’t give God instructions, just report for duty.

9. We don’t change the message, the message changes us.

10. Peace starts with a smile.

11. Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and
permanently set.

12. God Himself does not judge a person until he/she is dead. So
why should you?
Credit: Mrs. Dorothy Scorsone (Delray Beach, FL)

1. Judaism Theology
Angels are messengers of God who help carry out God’s work and
plans. They are purely spiritual beings who do not have a physical form.
Biblical Angels who appear to people only look human. With exceptions
(Abraham and Jacob), angels initiate the communication from God.
There is no angel worship in Judaism, and Jews believe it is only God
who determines what happens on earth. Angels merely carry out God’s
will. Traditionally. Michael is a guardian of the Jewish people. Gabriel is
the angel of judgment and strength. Uriel is the angel who illuminates the
right path. Raphael is a healer.

2. Protestant Theology
Angels are messengers and carry out God’s will. Some angels are
guardian angels. Angels are created as spirited beings not as humans.
They can take on a human form. They are genderless and invisible.
They provide guidance and assurance to believers. Guardian angels help
protect people from harm.

3. Catholic Theology
Angels are intermediaries between God and humans. In additon
to their role as servants and messenges, angels are also attendants to
God’s throne. Catholic theology outlines a hierarchy of nine choirs of
angels divided into three groups: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones:
Dominations, Virtues and Powers; Principalities, Archangels and Angels.
Finally Angels are pure spirits and don’t have human form.
Credit – Beliefnet (1/18/09)

Islamic teachings on abortion

Muslims regard abortion as wrong and haram (forbidden), but may
accept that it may be permitted in certain cases.
All schools of Muslim law accept that abortion is permitted if
continuing the pregnancy would put the mother’s life in real danger. This
is the only reason accepted for abortion after 120 days of the pregnancy.
Different schools of Muslim law hold different views on whether any
other reasons for abortion are permitted, and at what stage of pregnancy
if so.
Some schools of Muslim law permit abortion in the first 16 weeks of
pregnancy, while others only permit it in the first 7 weeks.
However, even those scholars who would permit early abortion
in certain cases still regard abortion as wrong, but do not regard it as
punishable wrong. The more advanced the pregnancy, the greater the
wrong.
The Qur’an does not explicitly refer to abortion but offers guidance
on related mattes. Scholars accept that this guidance can properly be
applied to abortion.
Sanctity of Life
The Islamic view is based on the very high priority the faith gives to
the sanctity of life. The Qur’an states:
Whosoever has spared the life of a soul, it is as though he has spared
the life of all people. Whosoever has killed a soul, it is as though he has
murdered all of mankind. Qur’an 5:32.
Most Muslim scholars would say that a fetus in the womb is
recognized and protected by Islam as a human life.
Protection of the mother’s life.
Islam allows abortion to save the life of the mother because it sees
this as the ‘lesser of two evils’ and there is a general principle in Sharia
(Muslim law) of choosing the lesser of two evils.
Credit: www.islamic-teachings-abortion