DOES GOD WANT YOU TO BE RICH and other great stories

BURNING QUESTION OF THE WEEK: "DOES GOD WANT YOU TO BE RICH?" Simple yes or no. We know you have an opinion about that. Think it over. And then join the fun and post your comments.

FEATURED BLOG OF THE WEEK: "Religion is a virtue, Believe me." An interesting discussion that stems from a reader's comment that being "saved" is not a matter of religious affiliation.


Dear friends,

This week 9-11 was in the news. It was an attack that shook our faith's foundations. Where was God? Why did God allow them to happen? Five years later, we ask ourselves, "Can we forgive 9/11?" We also bring you the story of a Catholic hero of flight 93 who, before dying in the crash, told his wife he believed God had a message for him. We bring you that message here.

And was Pope Benedict busy this week visiting his German homeland. Since becoming Pope, he has become one of the most beloved popes ever. The crowds, journalists and security detail accompanying him during his Bavarian visit rival those of a travelling pop star's.

And he has been preachin non-stop.In Munich, he warns that secular society is becoming deaf to God and is losing touch with reality. On another occasion he invited the faithful to rediscover the beauty of family prayer. At yet another venue, he preached, " Man is not the chance result of Evolution." And on Ecumenism, he cited the three keys to making progress as "confession" of Christ, witness and love.

And all this action and more was constantly monitored by a young Catholic blogger from Pennsylvania who has lately been making waves with his daily report on the Pope. The word is, even the Pope himself reads Rocco Palmo's daily blogs. We bring you this report via a live streaming audio.

ParishWorld blogger Jeri Westerson continues her dissertation on the Old Testament with the story of Abram and Sarai. If you haven't been following her blog series, you have to see her explain how people can better understand the Bible from a Catholic point of view.

In the news, a new study reports that an alarming 60% of our 20-something youths are failing to translate their teen spirituality to their adult lives. That's enough cause for a serious dicussion on the issue. In the business world, a company is actually using Catholic Church teachings as their guide post in investing their money and they're gaining good success!

From Utah, a report shows how Latinos - now 78% of the state's Catholic population - are changing the church landscape there. And elsewhere in the U.S., a group is suing the federal government over grant money that went to a marriage counseling center which promotes Christian family values.

GET INSPIRED! "Becoming the Eyes, Hands, Feet, Heart and Voice of Jesus" is the wonderful story of a youth group that took over a soup kitchen in low-income Aberdeen, WA and the lessons they took home with them. "Spiritual Tightropes" explores the challenges people in church ministry face as they try to balance their missionary work and the needs of their own families.

"To All the Kids Who Survived the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's," we have this story for you. "Jimmy's Handwritten Letter from Heaven," "Life is short," and "People come into your life for a reason," are all stories that will tug at your heartstrings.

In Youth and Lifestyle, we kick off things with a Catholic teen band who's drawing crowds to their local church by re-arranging pop songs with Christan lyrics. The Monkees "I'm a Believer" becomes "I'm a Christian Believer!" and more. And a contestant in the hit reality TV show Apprentice 5 is so fired up about his line of Christian apparel that he donates part of his proceeds to Catholic Pro-Life charities.

If you're in the Santa Monica, CA area this weekend, Sept. 15-16, try to make it to the First Annual "Leading with Passion" Music and Worship Festival! Keynote speakers and Catholic musicians like Jessie Manibusan ad Paul Harrigan will be leading the crowds.

And in the year 2025, will it matter if people can't read? This article that we have postulates that question in light of the developing multimedia environment of the future. Take a peek into the near future. Check out this story.

And how was your week? May you have a wonderful and blessed week to come.

Keep the faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher and Editor