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Day: June 22, 2008

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Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia, Political,

Opening doors, breaking down stereotypes

From EUBusiness: Sarkozy opens French job market to mythical Polish plumber

(WARSAW) – President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday France’s job market would soon be opened to workers from Poland and seven other EU states, quashing fears of “Polish plumbers” stealing French jobs.

“The time has come today for France to remove the last restrictions on the free movement of Polish workers and the other states that joined the EU in 2004,” Sarkozy said, addressing a joint session of the upper and lower houses of the Polish parliament.

“The spectacular development of the Polish economy is the best response to the myth we referred to as the ‘Polish plumber’ … I’ve come to tell you ‘you are our friends and you are welcome’,” he said.

France’s move to open wide its doors to eastern workers will come July 1, on the first day of its six-month presidency of the European Union and covers workers from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as Poland.

…

“The decision is based on the reality of the job market: Polish plumbers never went to France.”

Having opted for a five-year transition period, France originally planned to open its labour market to the eight 2004 EU entrants in May 2009, unlike Britain, Ireland and Sweden which opted for complete access upon expansion in May 2004…

Of course the Polish plumber was a myth just like the mythical Hispanic worker that is stealing all the jobs in the U.S. This mythological figure was used in France’s political fight over the E.U. Constitution:

The —Polish plumber——”a symbol of cheap labor—”became a catchphrase in France’s —No— camp during its referendum on the E.U. constitution.See the reference in Fear of the Polish Plumber.

Of course Poland’s tourist industry squeezed a lot of lemonade from the lemons France threw at it. In the famous Polish Plumber ad, Poland invited the French to come and see. From MSNBC: France’s new media star? The Polish plumber

PARIS – Live in France? Got leaky pipes? The Polish plumber —” muscled, square jawed and downright handsome —” won’t be there to help.

But with his wrench at the ready, the man who came to symbolize cheap labor in France traveled to Paris on Tuesday to prove he is harmless —” and to welcome the French to Poland.

It’s all part of an ad campaign that aims to lure tourists to Poland by spoofing French fears about a mythical Polish plumber who would move to France and steal jobs…

As the EUBusiness story states – which is the more correct version of reality – Polish plumbers never went to France. In other words our fear of immigrant labor is nothing more than a politically expedient “hot button” issue with little if any basis in reality. We should learn a lesson from the French government. When we come to our senses about the reality of immigration we will see that we all benefit, and that immigrants add value to our country.

Beyond the issue of immigration, members of the E.U. are quickly finding out that you need to sustain your economy if you want that off-price immigrant labor working for you. Poles who had immigrated are now returning to Poland. The economy in Poland is booming. See this from the TimesOnline: Tide turns as Poles end great migration

A wave of immigration that helped to fuel Britain’s early 21st century boom is over, as the Polish plumber and thousands like him go home.

The Times has established that, for the first time since they began arriving en masse four years ago, more UK-based Poles are returning to their homeland than are entering Britain.

Statistics show that only 38,680 Poles signed up to the Government’s register of migrant workers in the third quarter of 2007, a slump of 18 per cent from the previous year. Polish officials say that Poles leaving the country outnumber thoses coming in.

Hard statistics on the number of Poles leaving Britain do not exist. There are no embarkation controls on EU members so they are are not counted out. But Polish officials, British employment agencies and the Polish media all believe that the tide of immigration has turned. Since Poland joined the EU in 2004, 274,065 Poles have signed up for work permits. They make up 66 per cent of all applications from Eastern European countries.

But a combination of tightening economic conditions in this country, a comparatively weak pound and an unprecendented surge in the Polish economy has made it unattractive for Poles to remain…

Fair warning – the immigration wave addeth to the economy, the reversal of such taketh away from the economy.

Christian Witness, Saints and Martyrs

My patron saint – in a movie

From Lionsgate Home Entertainment: “Anthony Warrior of God“, a film based on the life of the most famous saint St. Anthony of Padua, is now available.

Life of St. Anthony of Padua

Co-written and directed by Antonello Belluco, “Anthony Warrior of God” is an inspiring tale of historical and doctrinal resonance that doesn’t preach, but instead invites the audience to go on a journey of reflection and contemplation regardless of their theological convictions. The film stars Jordi Mollá (Blow, Elizabeth: The Golden Age), Matt Patresi, Damir Todorovic (The Nativity Story), Giovanni Capalbo (The Passion of the Christ), Arnoldo Foí  (II Caimano) and Paolo De Vita (Excellent Cadavers) and depicts the story of the remarkable man whose deeply rooted faith enabled him to challenge society in support of his people.

St. Anthony began life as a young nobleman who enjoyed all the sumptuous pleasures and privileges of that medieval Europe could offer. Yet he was compelled by a mysterious inner voice to gaze upon the unspeakable misery, disease and cruelty around him. Overcome with boundless compassion, he entered a monastery, dedicating his fine mind and fragile body to defending the poor and oppressed against injustice. This revolutionary saint dared to challenge the highest spheres of society, the government and even the Church, if they were guilty of exploiting the common people.

His story continues to this day with the many accounts of those who have been transformed by “the most famous saint in the world”, St. Anthony of Padua.

I plan to purchase the film.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia

A Polish monk and his couple’s “guide”

From the Courier Mail: Catholic monk’s sex guide

A CELIBATE Polish monk has established a website [Akt małżeński]The site is being heavily trafficked because of this article. I wouldn’t try visiting for a few days. And for those with prurient interests – it’s all in Polish so good luck… offering a guide to good sex for married couples, dubbed the ‘Catholic Kama Sutra’.

Father Ksawery Knotz’s site gives graphic lovemaking hints and describes sex as a deeply spiritual act in which the couple can experience God.

“In Catholic teaching, the conjugal act is presented as a meeting that occurs not only between a husband and a wife who love each other, but also between the married couple and God,” he said.

The Franciscan monk, who runs the site with the help of a panel of married couples, is also the author of a book titled The Marriage Act: A Chance to Meet God in Your Marriage Partner.

He said on his website sex should be seen by couples as a gift from God…

This sort of fits with one of the current trends in some churches that offer sex courses and advice in order to attract people to the church. It is an interesting marketing phenomenon (see an MSNBC article about Joe Beam for instance). One of our local evangelical churches, a member of the Lifechurch network offers courses like this.

The problem with many of these is that they are perspective based. I would think that Father Knotz’s advice follows Roman Catholic teaching on the subject, which is highly regulated, so much so that people miss the core message, and focus rather on guilt for missing the regulatory mark. Minister Joe Beam’s activities appear to reach down to the level of pandering as part of marketing. How does a Christian make sense of it all?

I personally think that any message in regard to sexuality and the Christian life has to flow from the basic tenants of the Christian life. This discussion cannot be boiled down to rules with do’s and don’ts because rules are formulaic and process oriented – they are not relational. Christianity is relational and is all about community, including the family as community.

Frankly, I like that way Christianity Today covers the issue in Christian Sex Rules by Melissa and Louis McBurney, M.D. This makes sense because their message meets the standard of Christian practice. Faithfulness to essential truths, freedom in non-essentials. Sexual practice is not the core issue or problem in people’s lives (excepting the few who have physical or mental issues which inhibit them), it is rather focusing on how every aspect of married life goes to fulfilling the humanness of the couple, their mutual giving, their ability to sacrifice beyond themselves, and their ability to meet God in every aspect of their life.

Homilies,

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.—¨

Frankly, I struggled with this homily. So much in today’s first reading is negative. Everyone is hating Jeremiah. He doesn’t have a good word for anyone in Israel. All those around him want to either turn him of kill him. It’s an ode to ends justify the means. Please, let’s do anything we can do to stop him, to quiet him, to shut him down. Jeremiah doesn’t have a friend left in the world; all he has is God.

All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.—¨
‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,—¨
and take our vengeance on him.’—¨

The psalmist too, he is outcast, apart from his people, insulted and rejected, even by his children, because he is faithful to God.

For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,—¨
a stranger to my children

With words like those I could launch into a preachy homily all about how faithfulness to God, in the face of every bad thing, is more important than home, family, friends, and reputation. I could tell you that God demands that we sacrifice everything and come to Him empty so He can fill us with every good thing.

I could do that, but I want to tell you about an amazing thing. In the face of all the bad Jeremiah and the psalmist faced they erupted into praise. Jeremiah says:—¨

Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,—¨
for he has rescued the life of the poor

The psalmist exclaims:

—See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!—¨
…—¨
Let the heavens and the earth praise him,—¨
the seas and whatever moves in them!”—¨

Brothers and sisters,

Jeremiah and the psalmist knew that God is the God of constant hope. He is the God of fulfillment. He is God who keeps His promises and cares for us.

I began by quoting from St. Paul:

how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.—¨

Praise be God because we have the grace of God. Our Holy Church and this parish are encompassed with God’s total love and commitment. His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dwells with us. His Spirit enlightens, motivates, and strengthens us. He has drawn us together, a people of many opinions, many life stories, and many backgrounds in a testament to His wisdom. We are here for a reason. We are here because we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, and because we wish to take the fruit of that faith and turn it into the good works, into caring and loving relationships with each other, all of which will bring people to Christ.

Jesus gave us complete assurance when He said:

—Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,—¨
nor secret that will not be known.—¨
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;—¨
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.—

I also began by saying that I struggled with this homily. It was a struggle because it is often difficult to see the hope God offers. It is difficult until God’s grace opens our eyes to Jesus’ assurance.

It is assurance and a call to hope. What we have — faith — cannot be destroyed. Certainly, like Jeremiah and the psalmist, we will face difficulty. We will feel abandonment, loneliness, the anger of others, disparagement. Then something miraculous will occur. We will erupt into praise because we know Jesus’ promise to us. We know that He will acknowledge [us] before [His] heavenly Father.

St. Paul told the Romans that the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflows for the many. He told them that because it is true – and it is true today. We have God’s grace, the very same grace Paul spoke about, and we will never be emptied or apart from God because of it. We will never see things in the same way, or speak in the same way again – because of faith, because of grace, because of the constant hope of God Who folds us into His arms, His care, and His protection. Let us praise Him. Alleluia! Amen.

Fathers, PNCC

June 22 – St. Macarius the Great of Egypt from the Spiritual Homilies

For in this do true Christians differ from the whole race of mankind besides: they have their heart and mind constantly taken up with the thoughts of heaven; and, through the presence and participation of the Holy Spirit, do behold, as in a glass, the good things which are eternal, being born of God from above, and thought worthy to become the children of God in truth and power; and being arrived, through many conflicts and labours, to a settled and fixed state, to an exemption from trouble, to perfect rest, are never sifted more by unsettled and vain thoughts. Herein are they greater and better than the world. Their mind and the desire of their soul are in the peace of Christ, and the love of the Spirit; and they have passed from death to life. Wherefore the alteration peculiar to Christians does not consist in any outward fashions, but in the renovation of the mind, and the peace of the thoughts, and the love of the Lord, even the heavenly love. Herein Christians differ from all men besides. The Lord has given them truly to believe on him, and to be worthy of those spiritual good things. For the glory, and the beauty, and the heavenly riches of Christians are inexpressible, and purchased only with labour, and pains, and trials, and many conflicts. But the whole is owing to the grace of God. — Homily 4, para 4: There is a wide difference between Christians and the men of this world.

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