Toledo bishop asks Catholic groups to suspend support for Komen fund

News Brief:

Toledo bishop asks Catholic groups to suspend support for Komen fund

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Bishop Leonard P. Blair of Toledo, Ohio, has told Catholic institutions and schools in the Diocese of Toledo to suspend fundraising efforts for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation that supports breast cancer research, and instead direct such donations to a local group of Catholic-run cancer centers. In a July 5 letter to Catholics, Bishop Blair cited Komen's contributions to Planned Parenthood and noted the foundation does not exclude the possibility of funding research that uses embryonic stem cells as reasons Catholic entities should not support the nonprofit organization. "While we want to do everything possible to support the search for a cure (for cancer), sadly the landscape of medical research today is sometimes marred by the erroneous belief that research is not bound by moral norms rooted in faith and reason, as reflected in the teaching of the church," said Bishop Blair. He acknowledged Komen does not currently fund research using embryonic stem cells, but said its "policy does not exclude that possibility." A 2007 document from Susan G. Komen for the Cure said: "Embryonic stem cells are currently considered to have the most potential for use in the regeneration of diseased or injured tissues," and can also provide "a better understanding of cancer development." However, Andrea Rader, a spokeswoman for Komen at its Dallas headquarters, told Catholic News Service July 12, that she wanted to make it "very clear that we do not fund embryonic stem-cell research," but she acknowledged Komen doesn't "want to preclude that possibility."

Another Monday at CNS

Graduates find time for Service
   Economy, desire to live out faith leads grads to choose faith-based service before job hunting

News Brief:

Students learn from each other at Campus Ministry Leadership Institute

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Campus Ministry Leadership Institute at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia invited students and campus ministry directors to spend a long weekend working on an existing project idea that they hope to bring back to their home campus. Tom Sheibley, the institute's director, told Catholic News Service that a lot of "networking and sharing happens here to enhance that." This year the annual four-day event was offered twice -- June 2-5 and June 9-12. About 180 campus ministers, students and facilitators from 30 different campuses across the U.S. attended the institute, the largest turnout in its 14-year history. Groups attended presentations on the history of campus ministry in the U.S. and how to use "different gifts people bring to the process" as tools for creating a campus ministry project. They also were given an overview of bishops' document on campus ministry.

Keep it real...meat, that is.

This info is coming to you from the University of Oxford:

"Meat grown using tissue engineering techniques, so-called ‘cultured meat’, would generate up to 96% lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventionally produced meat, according to a new study."

 I totally support trying to be "green," reducing your carbon footprint, etc. but sometimes it can be taken too far. It's not faux meat-eating extremists that are going to make a difference; its everyone, collectively, vowing to make a small change in their life to be better stewards of the earth, be it by reducing their meat consumption. riding a bike to work or dedicating one afternoon a month to cleaning up a local park.

 It is possible to live (and enjoy life and food) without eating meat, or any meat by-products for that matter. There are healthy alternatives, but is lab-grown meat really the answer? I don't think so. I don't advocate a vegan lifestyle by any means, I enjoy chicken and ice cream and yogurt like no other, but I could definitely cut chicken out of my diet if the alternative was grown in a petri dish. I really don't care if lab-grown meat consumes "45% less energy, 99% lower land use, and 96% lower water use than conventional meat."

I'd rather have the real thing, just much less often as i way of reducing my carbon footprint, thanks.

On the CNS blog: Charities profit from smart shopppers

If you are as much of a fan of "Extreme Couponing" on TLC as I am, then you will enjoy my blog today for CNS!

 

Charities profit from smart shoppers

News Shorts

 A few news briefs coming to you from me via CNS:

New ambassador-at-large for world religious freedom finally takes post

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The new U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom will use her ability to "build bridges between people and foster dialogue," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton June 2 in a ceremony swearing in the Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook. "Everyone, no matter his or her religion, should be allowed to practice their beliefs freely and safely," said Clinton at the ceremony at the State Department. Clinton praised Rev. Cook, whom she called "Sujay," for her abilities, saying that the two will have many issues to combat, because "religious freedom is under threat from both quiet intolerance and violent attacks. She knows how to promote respect and tolerance, and she will bring those skills to this position that she will now hold with such honor." Rev. Cook said in a speech following her swearing-in that "religious freedom provides a cornerstone for every healthy society," making communities more secure and prosperous. She also said she will "define creative news ways to advance ideals (of religious freedom)." In her speech in the packed Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Department, Rev. Cook quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., saying "the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

St. Mary's College receives $4.7 million bequest from 1961 graduate

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (CNS) -- St. Mary's College has received a $4.7 million donation from the trust of alumna Marjorie A. Neuhoff, the largest sum left in a will in the school's history. Neuhoff was a 1961 graduate of St. Mary's College, a four-year Catholic women's college in Indiana. Carol Ann Mooney, president of the college, said Neuhoff, who died in 2008, was "a professional woman known for her business acumen" who also had "a great love" for St. Mary's. "In her memory, and with the consideration of her family, we have invested her bequest in areas of the college where we see increasing student interest. Our hope is she would see these as sound investments in an institution with which she had a strong personal connection," Mooney said in a statement. The college allocated the funds to three areas of need. The Marjorie A. Neuhoff Nursing Chair will be created with $2 million from the bequest. The chair will be always occupied by the director of the college's nursing department. The current director is Linda Paskiewicz, who will be installed as the first chair holder. A Neuhoff scholarship to be awarded based on financial need will be established with $1.7 million and will be available starting with the 2013-2014 academic year.

Food Frenzy!

Homemade Pizza

Here's what I've been cooking up in the kitchen lately!

Chicken Marsala

Served with brown rice

The perfect picnic...couscous and black bean-mango salad

Baked falafel

The toppings...

Falafel on Wheat

Polenta topped with mixed veggies, Parmesan cheese, and olive tomato sauce

Fresh Guacamole with cucumber and carrots to dip

Peanut Butter Chocolatey Goodness

Strawberry Chocolatey Goodness

Happy Fireworks Day!

Let's face it...this day should be renamed Fireworks & Burger Day, or something. It's really just an excuse to have a picnic and make some variation of a strawberry-blueberry-coolwhip parfait or flag cake.
Example:

 

                 

Delisssshhh!

I am not picnicking today, though. I got all my picnicking out on Saturday and Sunday. However, if I were to host my own shin-dig I would enlist my own version of Baked by Melissa's July specialty cupcake..."Firework." Look how beautiful it is...

 

So pretty! I may experiment and see if I can duplicate it sometime... 

     This was a whirlwind weekend! Left DC Friday night and headed home to Hershey. Spent the day there on Saturday. The weather was perfect for a run and then I cooled down with some Pilates inside and got some laps done in the pool. I love an almost-triathlon work-out! If only they replaced the bike portion with Zumba...I'd be all set! Then Andy and his family came over for a late afternoon/evening picnic. We stuffed ourselves with tasty picnic food, my favorite category of the food pyramid (I think it should be a group all its own). Well, the food pyramid doesn't exist anymore anyway...they're all about "My Plate" now. Whatever. 

    After mass on Sunday, I did another run-swim session and packed up the car. I picked up Andy and we drove to Maryland for a picnic with his side of the family and more pool-time (I can never get enough!)

    Next weekend we are looking forward to another couple fun-filled picnic-n-pool days. Can't wait! I'll be making some Puppy Chow to feed the crowds, Andy is making an Asian slaw salad, and we will be mixing up some mouth watering Mojitos!

-S