Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus

Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, ora pro nobis!

Young Girls Give Their Virginity to Their Fathers

At Purity Balls, Young Girls Give Their Virginity to Their Fathers

‘You are married to the Lord and your daddy is your boyfriend’:  Purity balls, in which girls ‘gift their virginity’ to their fathers until marriage, sweeping America

  • Purity balls now take place in 48 states in the US, and in 17 countries 
  • Daughters promise to remain pure and give virginity to fathers to ‘protect’
  • Girls given a ring as well as having wedding style ‘first dance’ with fathers
Purity balls, in which a girl pledges to remain ‘pure’ until her wedding day, symbolically ‘marries’ God, and promises her father that she will remain a virgin until she’s a wife, have become a phenomenon in America, now taking place in 48 out of the 50 states.
The balls resemble giant wedding ceremonies, with the girls – all around the age of 12 – wearing white gowns and dancing with their fathers who promise to ‘protect’ their daughter’s chastity.
During the ceremony, fathers present their daughters with purity rings, which they wear to symbolise their commitment to virginity.  
Ron Johnson, who is the head pastor at the Living Stones Church, kneels to present one of his younger daughters with her purity ring in the new documentary exploring the growing phenomenon of father daughter purity balls
Dancers carry a cross into the ballroom at the annual Father-Daughter Purity Ball in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2007. Balls now take place in 48 states in the US, and in 17 countries worldwide
 Daughter pledges purity to dad in new US doc, Purity Balls
 
 In the movement purity means no sexual contact of any kind, including kisses, until after marriage.
One of the largest father-faughter purity balls - which is the subject of a Nightline Prime investigation – has been held for 14 consecutive years in Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. 
The event sees upwards of 60 fathers pledging to ‘protect their daughter’s choices for purity’. 
Fathers taking part are expected to sign a ‘purity covenant’ in which they, as ‘High Priest of their home and family’ pledge ‘before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity’
The daughters silently commit to live pure lives before God through the symbol of laying down a white rose at the cross, before engaging in a wedding-type dance with their father.  
An unidentified father and daughter kneel at a cross after the girls lay white roses symbolising their commitment to purity at a ball
 Ron Jonson places the ring on the forth finger of his daughters left hand - her wedding finger
Ron Jonson places the ring on the forth finger of his daughters left hand – her wedding finger
 A new documentary follows two families who are taking part in this ritual; the Wilsons, whose father Randy is one of the founders of the father daughter balls, and the Johnsons from Indiana. 
While all seven of the Wilson children are home schooled, socialising mainly with other members of their church community, the Johnson children attend a regular high school.
But while they might be exposed to normal teenage behaviour at school, at home they have the message of purity enforced by father Ron, who is the head pastor at the Living Stones Church.
One scene sees Ron kneeling in front of one of his younger daughter, gifting her with her purity ring.
‘One of the things you’ve been asking daddy about is “when am I going to get my purity ring?”
‘One of things I think it’s important to remember is this is your desire to do it the Lord’s way and really save yourself from kissing lots of toads along the way and wait for your prince charming to come along,’ he says.  
'You keep this on your finger and as this point you are married to the Lord and your father is your boyfriend,' Ron explains in the new documentary
A young girl signs the purity covenant as a witness: It states that her father, as High Priest of the household, will now protect her virginity
A father presents his daughter with her ring: Randy Wilson founded the first Father Daughter Ball in 1998
 Brandishing a gold ring, Ron continues: ‘This is just a reminder that keeping yourself pure is important. So you keep this on your finger and from this point you are married to the Lord and your father is your boyfriend.’
He then places the ring on the forth finger of his daughter’s left hand – her wedding finger.
The concept of purity pledges exists in in over 17 countries and across America, blossoming from the original purity movement that began in the USA in the 1980s.
Adolescent members of church groups began taking vows of abstinence and wearing rings to symbolise their commitment as a backlash to the perceived sexual liberation of the past decades and the growing AIDS epidemic.
They soon began wearing rings to symbolise their commitment, but the idea of girls giving their virginity to their father to safeguard until marriage, and the ceremonial purity balls, developed much later in alliance with Evangelical church movements. 
Watch the full story on “Nightline Prime,” Saturday, March 22 at 9 p.m. ET.

PURITY COVERING AND COVENANT

I ………’s father, choose before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity. I will be pure in my own life as a man, husband and father. 
I will be a man of integrity and accountability as I lead, guide and pray over my daughter and my family as the High Priest in my home. This covering will be used  by God to influence generations to come.

Wisconsin bishop enforces ban...

Wisconsin bishop enforces ban on washing feet of women on Holy Thursday

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Laus deo!!   May God bless the good bishop for standing up and defending Holy Mother Church and her sacred Truths. I wish I could say the same for the Bishop of Rome!!
It’s unusual to see something like this in a secular paper, but a reader spotted this in the Madison State Journal: 
Just a few weeks after his election last spring, Pope Francis stunned papal observers by washing the feet of two women during a Holy Week ritual.
The rite — on Maundy Thursday, just prior to Easter Sunday — re-enacts Jesus’ washing of the feet of his 12 male disciples at his Last Supper. Traditionally, popes washed the feet only of men.
Catholic traditionalists believe the men-only rule should remain — at least for everyone below the pope — and many canon lawyers say church law agrees with that position. However, some dioceses in this country had begun including women long before the pope’s example, and a statement on the website for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops says that to include women is “an understandable way of accentuating the evangelical command of the Lord.”
Three years ago, Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino issued guidelines that gave priests the option of either using only men or not celebrating the ritual at all. Given the heightened attention to foot-washing last year, some parishioners thought Morlino might re-evaluate his position.
That has not happened. Brent King, the diocesan spokesman, said priests have the same two options this year — men-only or no ritual. Holy Thursday Mass falls on April 17. Easter is April 20.
As has become his tradition, Morlino will celebrate Holy Thursday Mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Downtown Madison, King said, where he will wash the feet of 12 seminarians.
Last year, at least two priests — at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Madison and Nativity of Mary in Janesville — took a pass on the ritual due to the male-only rule.

VORIS LOBS ANOTHER GRENADE

Last Monday, Michale Voris fired another salvo in the direction of those in traditional Catholic media who don’t tiptoe around the confusion caused by Time Magazine’s Person of Year in a video entitled, “The Pope IS Different.”
I’ve lost count of the number of emails I’ve since received from people pleading for a reaction. The video below is that response. I actually made it five days ago but had some “behind the scenes” work to do.
You’ll notice an edit toward the end where I talk about Michael’s allegation that some people (presumably like me) are “making a living” off of criticizing the pope’s words and deeds.
Initially I had offered some details about the lengths some persons in the Church will go to see to it that guys like me don’t get to make a living, not just criticizing the pope, but at all. After consultation with a trusted adviser, however, I’ve decided that now isn’t the time to air such details. I will in due time…
So, without further delay, late to the dance though it may be, is my reply.
Must see Video 
http://www.harvestingthefruit.com/voris-lobs-another-grenade/


Divine Care - Laetare Sunday

                          Divine Care

Laetare Sunday
Rejoice, O Jerusalem, Is. 66.10). Thus, Holy Church bids us in her Introit for today’s Mass as it is in her, not in the Synagogue which witnessed the tragic destruction of its life – the accursed Temple which shall never rise again – that this passage was perfectly realized. Indeed, the Lord is round about His people, from henceforth now and forever (from the Tract of the Mass, Ps. 124.1-2) so that she shall not be moved [that is, she shall not fall into official idolatrous cult for she can never fall into official doctrinal error in the first place: being deceived with error thou adore strange gods, and serve them (Deut. 30.17); cf., Mt. 16.18 why 1 Tim. 3.15 - contrary to what the 'Bible-only' sectarians impiously asserted].
In today’s Holy Gospel (the feeding of five thousand men, Jn. 6.1-15), the Lord and Savior manifested the might of His divine solicitude providing, out of five barley loaves and two fishes, for the hungry multitude who followed Him that they not faint even unto spiritual death. By this miraculous bodily refection, He is pointing to us who now seewith the eyes of Divine Faith the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist :
Continue reading 
http://teresiancarmel.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/divine-care/


You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven

Repost

Pope Francis assures atheists: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven



In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.
Responding to a list of questions published in the paper by Mr Scalfari, who is not a Roman Catholic, Francis wrote: “You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing – that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.
“Sin, even for those who have no faith, exists when people disobey their conscience.” 
Robert Mickens, the Vatican correspondent for the Catholic journalThe Tablet, said the pontiff’s comments were further evidence of his attempts to shake off the Catholic Church’s fusty image, reinforced by his extremely conservative predecessor Benedict XVI. “Francis is a still a conservative,” said Mr Mickens. “But what this is all about is him seeking to have a more meaningful dialogue with the world.” 
In a welcoming response to the letter, Mr Scalfari said the Pope’s comments were “further evidence of his ability and desire to overcome barriers in dialogue with all”.
In July, Francis signalled a more progressive attitude on sexuality, asking: “If someone is gay and is looking for the Lord, who am I to judge him?”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-assures-atheists-you-dont-have-to-believe-in-god-to-go-to-heaven-8810062.html

A warm up to the Big One?

  • A warm up to the Big One? Los Angeles on earthquake alert as ANOTHER 4.1 tremor hits day after downtown was shaken by 5.1 quake




  • Los Angeles residents warned that Friday's 5.1 magnitude earthquake could be followed by a much larger event
  • Friday's earthquake was the second sizeable tremor in two weeks - following a 4.4 quake on March 17
  • Last night's quake rattled a wide swath of Southern California, breaking water mains in a nearby community and prompting Disneyland to shut down rides
  • There were no reports of injury or substantial structural damage from the quake
  • 'Tonight's earthquake is the second in two weeks, and reminds us to be prepared,' Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said
  • A Los Angeles police spokeswoman said the department had not received any reports of damage or injury
  • The quake was felt as far away as Palm Springs in the east and Ventura County to the north


  • After the second strong earthquake in as many weeks, seismologists have warned that Friday's 5.1 tremor that rumbled through Los Angeles could herald a much larger quake.
    The series of earthquakes began at 8.03pm, peaking at 9.09pm with a tremor centered near Brea in Orange County causing Disneyland to close, gas leaks, water main breaks and a rockslide near the epicenter, according to authorities as up to 100 aftershocks were felt.
    US Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones said that, 'There could be an even larger earthquake in the next few hours or the next few days,' as more than two dozen aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 2 to 3.6 were recorded, according to the USGS. 
    Scroll Down for Video
    Tremor: A broken block wall blocks the sidewalk Saturday, March 29, 2014, after an earthquake hit Orange County Friday night in Fullerton, Calif.  More than 100 aftershocks have rattled Orange County south of Los Angeles
    Tremor: A broken block wall blocks the sidewalk Saturday, March 29, 2014, after an earthquake hit Orange County Friday night in Fullerton, Calif. More than 100 aftershocks have rattled Orange County south of Los Angeles
    A CalTrans worker and a geologist look at a rock wall where a rockslide closed Carbon Canyon Road near Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea, Calif.,
    A CalTrans worker and a geologist look at a rock wall where a rockslide closed Carbon Canyon Road near Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea, Calif.,

    Rocked: Customers flee Disneyland as the park is shut down following a 5.1 earthquake in L.A.
    Rocked: Customers flee Disneyland as the park is shut down following a 5.1 earthquake in L.A.

    And on Saturday afternoon, a shallow magnitude 4.1 earthquake was reported hitting Rowland Heights.
    This quake was centered not far from Friday's epicenter in La Habra and out of the hundreds of aftershocks this would have been the largest.
    The 4.4 quake was felt across a large area of Southern California. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
    'Tonight's earthquake is the second in two weeks, and reminds us to be prepared,' Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a written statement released about an hour after the shaking stopped.
    Geologists at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena said the quake was shallow, at a depth of only 1.2 miles.

    'We have to analyze that to make sure of the exact depth but it is relatively shallow,' said Robert Graves of CalTech. 'Earthquakes in California tend to be deeper than that so it's a little bit anomalous.'
    Graves said that there was a five percent chance that the quake was a precursor to a stronger quake.
    On March 17, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Los Angeles basin and was centered 15 miles west-northwest of the downtown civic center, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
    The reported damage was slight according to authorities.
    At the time, Lucy Jones said, 'It's not that large by California terms. It's the size of earthquake we have across the state once every couple of months. But we haven't had one like this in LA for quite a while.'
    Structural damage: Water covers a street as a city worker walks by near a water main break that occurred during a magnitude 5.1 earthquake in Fullerton, California on March 28, 2014
    Structural damage: Water covers a street as a city worker walks by near a water main break that occurred during a magnitude 5.1 earthquake in Fullerton, California on March 28, 2014
    Clean-up: A man picks up fallen goods at a CVS store after an earthquake on Friday, March 28, 2014, in La Mirada, California
    Clean-up: A man picks up fallen goods at a CVS store after an earthquake on Friday, March 28, 2014, in La Mirada, California
    Experts said that the earthquakes occurred on the Puente Hills thrust fault, which stretches from  the San Gabriel Valley to downtown Los Angeles.
    Last night's quake was shallow, which 'means the shaking is very concentrated in a small area,' said Caltech seismologist Egill Hauksson.
    Hauksson revealed that the earthquake was unusual because the 5.1 quake was preceded by the weaker foreshock.
    Scientists such as Hauksson are very concerned about the Puente Hills fault because it runs directly under downtown Los Angeles.
    'This is the fault that could eat L.A.,' seismologist Sue Hough told The LA Times in 2003.
    Residents across Los Angeles reported swinging chandeliers, fireplaces dislodging from walls and burglar alarms being set off by the quake.
    Enforcement: A police officer controls the traffic as workers shut off the water valve on Friday, March 28, 2014, in Fullerton, California
    Enforcement: A police officer controls the traffic as workers shut off the water valve on Friday, March 28, 2014, in Fullerton, California
    Off road: In Brea, the earthquake triggered a landslide that left this car upside down, with only minor injuries reported
    Off road: In Brea, the earthquake triggered a landslide that left this car upside down, with only minor injuries reported
    Eyewitness photos and videos show bottles and packages strewn on store floors. Southern California Edison reported power outages to about 2,000 customers following the quake.
    More than two dozen aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 2 to 3.6 were recorded, according to the USGS. Earlier in the evening, two foreshocks registering at magnitude-3.6 and magnitude-2.1 hit nearby in the city of La Habra.
    Public safety officials said crews were inspecting bridges, dams, rail tracks and other infrastructure systems for signs of damage. The Brea police department said the rock slide in the Carbon Canyon area caused a car to overturn, and the people inside the car sustained minor injuries.
    Callers to KNX-AM reported seeing a brick wall collapse, water sloshing in a swimming pool and wires and trees swaying back and forth. One caller said he was in a movie theater lobby in Brea when the quake struck.
    'A lot of the glass in the place shook like crazy,' he said. 'It started like a roll and then it started shaking like crazy. Everybody ran outside, hugging each other in the streets.'
    Fullerton resident Daniel Taylor told the station everything fell down in his home.
    'My 100-gallon fish tank went down. Water damage everywhere from the tank. My water pipes under my sink cracked,' he said.
    One viewer in Walnut said the power went out for 10 minutes.
    'The whole room was shaking. My bed was rolling for longer than most I've felt,' said another.

    Across the board: From Oscar winners to reality stars to actresses everyone weighed in
    Wreckage: Edison reported approximately 2,000 customers were out of power in the aftermath
    Wreckage: Edison reported approximately 2,000 customers were out of power in the aftermath
    Lucky: Despite the damage only minor injuries have been reported
    Lucky: Despite the damage only minor injuries have been reported
    Scope of the problem: The US Geological Survey released this map showing the location and intensity  of the 5.1 Richter scale earthquake
    Scope of the problem: The US Geological Survey released this map showing the location and intensity of the 5.1 Richter scale earthquake
    A helicopter news reporter from KNBC-TV reported from above that rides at Disneyland in Anaheim — several miles from the epicenter — were stopped as a precaution.
    Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully was on the air calling the Angels-Dodgers exhibition game in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium.
    'A little tremor here in the ballpark. I'm not sure if the folks felt it, but we certainly felt it here in press box row,' Scully said. 'A tremor and only that, thank goodness.'
    Tom Connolly, a Boeing employee who lives in La Mirada, the next town over from La Habra, said the magnitude-5.1 quake lasted about 30 seconds.
    'We felt a really good jolt. It was a long rumble and it just didn't feel like it would end,' he told The Associated Press by phone. 'Right in the beginning it shook really hard, so it was a little unnerving. People got quiet and started bracing themselves by holding on to each other. It was a little scary.'
    Smashed: Though damage was minimal, people reported dishes, bottles, and other perishable items breaking during the quake across L.A.
    Smashed: Though damage was minimal, people reported dishes, bottles, and other perishable items breaking during the quake across L.A.
    Be safe: Authorities advised residents to secure bookshelves and any precious items
    Be safe: Authorities advised residents to secure bookshelves and any precious items
    Flipped: Authorities said information about this earthquake could help them better understand the region's faults
    Flipped: Authorities said information about this earthquake could help them better understand the region's faults
    The party's over: Orange County residents said they felt gradual shaking for roughly 10 seconds followed by 20 aftershocks
    The party's over: Orange County residents said they felt gradual shaking for roughly 10 seconds followed by 20 aftershocks
    Friday's quake hit a week after a pre-dawn magnitude-4.4 quake centered in the San Fernando Valley rattled a swath of Southern California. That jolt shook buildings and rattled nerves, but did not cause significant damage.
    Southern California has not experienced a devastating earthquake since the 1994 magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake killed several dozen people and caused $25 billion in damage.
    Preliminary data suggest Friday night's 5.1 magnitude earthquake occurred near the Puente Hills thrust fault, which stretches from the San Gabriel Valley to downtown Los Angeles and caused the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, USGS seismologist Lucy Jones said.
    'It's a place where we've had a lot of earthquakes in the past,' she said.
    The 5.9 Whittier Narrows quake killed eight people and caused $360 million in damage.
    Just the start: Authorities said there was a 5 per cent chance a larger earthquake would follow in the next three days
    Just the start: Authorities said there was a 5 per cent chance a larger earthquake would follow in the next three days
    Clean-up: Stores across the region saw product thrown to the floor as terrified customers were shaken
    Clean-up: Stores across the region saw product thrown to the floor as terrified customers were shaken