La Crosse Diocese hosts "Roe v. Wade on the Brink?" talk Oct 23

On Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m., Ben Nguyen will keynote the annual Gospel of Life Celebration at Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall in La Crosse. Ben, formerly the Chancellor for the Diocese of La Crosse, will explain what we should know about the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling so much in the news with the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination battle. Ben will answer questions like: How was Roe v. Wade decided? How does it square with the Constitution? Is it likely to be overturned? Ben is both a civil and canon lawyer and serves as Chancellor and Canonical Counsel for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Bishop William Patrick Callahan will celebrate Mass at 6 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church preceding the talk.

Nguyen: Annulment Reform: 6 Misconceptions and 6 Developments

Pope Francis’ documents issued motu proprio (on his own intiative) Tuesday, one for the Latin Church (Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus) and one for the Eastern Churches (Mitis et Misericors Iesus), call for a close reading in order understand the developments of the canonical procedural laws concerning the declaration of marriage nullity process.

Unfortunately, the sensationalism that has surrounded it has caused some numerous misconceptions and misreporting that in turn can cause difficulty in understanding some of the reforms. While there is much still yet to be digested, I would like to highlight six misconceptions and also six of the developments in in these landmark reforms.

Misconceptions

1. Let us first take the biggest misconception that is being reported, namely the one regarding the Church’s teachings on marriage. The Catholic doctrine on marriage and indissolubility has not and will not change. It must be said clearly and repeatedly that Pope Francis’ reforms today are procedural changes and not changes in Church teachings nor even changes in substantive canonical law or jurisprudence for marriage cases. Claims that these are changes in the Church’s beliefs on marriage are simply mistaken.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/annulment-reform-6-misconceptions-and-6-developments/#ixzz3lFKVk5pM

NCReg profiles Springfield deacon ministering to divorced Catholics

CHICAGO — Deacon Patrick O’Toole remembered how far away he felt from the Church 17 years ago. He wasn’t a deacon then — his wife had left, divorced him and took his children. He felt broken and angry, until a meeting with a Catholic Church official corrected his many misconceptions about the Church, sacramental marriage and annulments and put him on the path to healing.

“He had the opportunity to help me understand what it was all about,” O’Toole said. “It prompted a whole conversion experience for me.”

O’Toole re-engaged with his faith and discovered the Church’s rich vision of sacramental marriage. He went through the process to obtain a declaration of nullity, commonly referred to as an annulment; and then, several years later, he married in the Church.

Now, Deacon O’Toole helps prepare people to go through the annulment process as part of his special ministry to divorced Catholics in the Diocese of Springfield, Ill.

“Generally, I begin the process with our theology of marriage: why we believe what we believe and why the Catholic Church recognizes marriage between two Christians — just like baptism — as a sacrament, whether their denomination would call it that or not,” he said.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/no-catholic-divorce-grounds-and-obstacles-to-annulments/#ixzz38xhQrYYP

Ben Nguyen: "The Continued Assault on Religious Freedom"

via the Diocese of La Crosse Youtube

I only get audio out of one speaker, but still it's totally worth the time to watch.  His talk I think is around 25 minutes.  Seriously, listen, it's excellent. 

La Crosse: “The Continued Assault on Religious Freedom” Tues. June 25

Tuesday, June 25, 7:00 pm – “The Continued Assault on Religious Freedom”  

Aquinas High School auditorium, 315 11th St . S . , La Crosse.

Keynote by Ben Nguyen, Visiting Adjunct Professor and Assistant to the Director of the Institute for Pastoral Theology of Ave Maria University. Ben is the former Chancellor of the Diocese of La Crosse, where he continues to serve as a legal and canonical consultant. After an opening prayer and remarks by Bishop Callahan, Ben will bring us up to date on the continued violation of religious freedom represented by the HHS Mandate, as well as other threats.

The keynote will be followed by comments from a panel consisting of Msgr. Roger Scheckel, Pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Richland Center, Nancy Hatle vig, Pastor of Connect Church in Onalaska, Corey Sateren, Pastor of Bethany Evangelical Free Church in La Crosse, and Dr. Mark Grunwald, a physician from Prairie du Chien. Admission is free.

Diocese of La Crosse 

There is remote viewing at certain parishes... not sure if they are streaming online so anyone can watch. 

La Crosse Theology on Tap hosts "Rome & Coke" Oct 18th

Wouldn't ya think a bar would have a website with pics
so I don't have to put a generic one out here... but I digress

“Five Things Every Catholic Should Know About Canon Law”
Benedict Nguyen, M.T.S., J.D./J.C.L.

Sponsored by:
Young Adults Group of Blessed Sacrament Church, La Crosse

Where:
The Recovery Room Restaurant & Bar
901 7th Street South La Crosse, WI 54601

When:
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011
6:30 pm

For more information call Fr. Jesse Burish at 608-782-2953

“In Catholicism, the pint, the pipe and the Cross can all fit together.” – GK Chesterton