PathToHoliness

Is it just me or do you feel persecuted by the media? I’m speaking in general here of course about what I refer to as the mainstream media (msm). ESPN, CBS, etc. You may wonder what I mean by mentioning ESPN. I will watch it for a game I want to see but it’s unbelievable what a bunch of junk is on there a lot of other times. I work out at the YMCA and it’s usually on a couple of the tv screens. Lately it seems like it’s just one story after another about some poor multi-million dollar athlete who’s in trouble. I don’t see any outrage from the reporters though. Most of them seem to only care about how they play and not about their conduct. They make excuses for them and want us to pity them for the troubled childhoods they’re escaping from.

At today’s Mass Father talked about the persecution of early Christians and how that came from many sources including even family. Well, after having to see stuff like on ESPN or all the other junk that’s being pushed through the media and on the internet I’d have to add what I can only call “the persecution by the media.”

What do you think?

Here’s an interesting place that I’ve been told was founded by some Opus Dei Cooperators. It’s the Institute for Media and Entertainment in New York.

The Institute for Media and Entertainment (IME) is dedicated to research and instruction that advance the lifelong career development of media and entertainment executives. The Institute emphasizes personal ethics as a core resource for professionals and their organizations.

You really don’t associate the word ethics with much in the media world today. Here’s an excerpt from the letter from the President, Jim Palos:

The second defining feature involves the interplay between media/entertainment products and culture. The media and entertainment sectors exercise a powerful influence on society, affecting the attitudes we hold and the mores by which we live. IME challenges its students to acknowledge this responsibility before society, and to consider the kind of effect they want to have on culture. We hope to help them become agents for developing material that appeals to what is most noble in the human person, challenging all of us to be persons who live in the service of others.

Just when I’m wondering what to post in comes inspiration. This time an email from Rob with the Apostolate for Family Consecration.

I subscribe to the Cardinal Arinze Podcast and they have a new logo. Now that is cool! A cardinal with his earphones on. I know we need peace and quiet in our daily lives but if you’ve got an iPod or other digital audio device you can subscribe to some great spiritual material. Cardinal Arinze’s podcast is one of them.

If you are having any problems subscribing or knowing how to get started just let me know.

I had coffee this afternoon with a good friend from St. Louis who was in town. John lives at the Wespine Study Center. I’d point you to their website but they really don’t have one, just a domain with their address on it. Hey guys, I’ll help you set one up.

He said he’d be sending me some ideas for content here. We’ll see what happens. I’ll be going on retreat at the end of March and John will be the “leader.”

On another note, as I was Googling for Opus Dei I noticed a number of stories about the personal prelature and the upcoming release of the movie version of the “Da Vinci Code.” Like this one in the Delaware News Journal. Here’s an excerpt:

But now the low-profile spiritual community is starting a drive to improve its image ahead of a major film based on the book — and that campaign begins at the group’s front door, where a sign invites fans of the Dan Brown novel to learn about “the real Opus Dei.”

“The unfortunate thing is there are going to be tens of millions of people who will read the novel and see the movie and have that be their only exposure to Opus Dei,” said Brian Finnerty, a spokesman for the group. “Because the book is marketed as being in some ways factual, it’s difficult for people to tell where the lines between fact and fiction are.”

I haven’t read the book. Don’t have any interest in doing so. And I certainly don’t want to see the movie. Sorry Tom (Hanks).

Really behind on posting again.

I’m going to figure out a way to change this since I’ve been trying to blog here like I do on my professional sites. So here’s the new idea. I’ll post daily and they’ll be short, but still include links to timely items of interest (hopefully).

For example, I’ve been wanting to write about the current situation with our MO Senator, Jim Talent. He’s always been so very outspoken about his prolife beliefs and until just recently has exhibited that in his offices. However, he just removed his name as a co-sponsor of a Senate bill to ban cloning. His reasons are not good and I don’t see how he can spin his way out of this one. I believe he even mentioned the need to “compromise.” There’s never a need to compromise about life in my opinion. I’m highly disappointed in him and the next thing I’m going to do when I finish here is write him a letter to let him know how I feel. I hope you will too.

You can do so here.