Chairman’s Thoughts

People often tell me that they don’t like going to church because they don’t get anything out of it.  I can understand where they are coming from because I used to feel the same way.  I always went, but often left feeling no different than before I came into church.  However, it became different when I changed my perspective and went to church for the greater good.

The simple fact is that going to church is not just about getting something out of it for you.  You go to church to serve God and serve others.

God is your Creator. He loves you and He will do anything for you that is good for your soul.  To put it simply:  He’s a great guy - and He would like you to be there with Him.

Also, everyone at church is depending on you.  The Church is a community that is dependent upon its members for success.  If no one goes to Church, there is no Church.  If no one prays, there are no prayers being said.  If no one volunteers in the Church, no work gets done and no difference is made.  If no one gives money to the Church, the Church can’t keep its doors open.

All of the good that churches do, such as feed the homeless, cloth the naked, protect the  battered woman, help the unwed mother, house and love the orphan, take care of the sick, teach our children, build and sustain a community, share the gospel, foster forgiveness, baptize children, anoint the sick, let people feel true forgiveness, etc. – would NOT HAPPEN if no one went to church.

So if you don’t go to church and your neighbor stops going to church, as a direct result the church can do less good.  THE CHURCH NEEDS YOU!

What I found is that when I began going to church to thank God and serve others, I began to get something out of every service and every Mass.  I slowly became a better man and I was able to accomplish more in my personal, family, religious and work life.  I had a greater sense of peace and purpose in my life.

The question to ask yourself is:  “Am I willing to really serve God and serve others?”  If the answer is yes, go to church for God and for your community.  After only a few months, you will see a difference in your life and in yourself.

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The Associated Press Staff Reports recently reported the following story about pro-abortion presidental candidate Rudy Giuliani:

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani says that whether he’s a good or bad Catholic is a personal matter.

A questioner at a town-hall meeting in Iowa noted President Bush’s success in winning the support of Catholic voters and asked the former New York mayor whether he considers himself a “traditional, practicing Roman Catholic.” Another audience member asked Giuliani to discuss the role his faith plays in making decisions on issues such as abortion.

Giuliani deflected those questions, explaining that,”The degree to which I am a good or not so good Catholic, I prefer to leave to the priests.”

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A new Gallup poll released today and conducted on Aug 13-16 showed that Congress has tied its all time low in which only 18% of the nation approves of the job Congress its doing.  This month’s congressional approval rating dipped nine points from a Gallup poll a month earlier, and has fallen steadily since January, when the Congressional approval rating was at 35 percent. Again, the reason for this is quite simple.  It seems more true now than at any point in U.S. History that our elected representatives our failing to listen to the American people.

1) We are in a long and difficult war in Iraq - yet no one seems willing to unite and do what is right for the country.

2) Our immigration system is busted.  People in need of a legitimate U.S. Citizenship and the chance for a better life are not given it and at the same time the U.S. borders are insecure.

3) The U.S. Social Security System is heading for bankruptcy, yet the politicians - in hopes of scoring political points - are expanding who is being covered by a system which cannot afford to pay the benefits it already is giving.

While the major issues above need to be addressed and are being completely ignored, Congress is pushing to essentially make it a “hate crime” to state that living out a homosexual lifestyle is immoral.

Stifling free speech is not the way to help a nation be peaceful, righteous and prosperous.  Solving the major problems of the day by making difficult and righteous decisions is.

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There are good people in politics.  Yes, there are even a lot of very good people that serve our nation in Washington D.C. However, it certainly seems as a whole that our nation’s leaders – of both parties – are more interested in holding onto power and helping their political party than serving the people that they represent.

I think that most Americans would say the following to their elected Federal office holders:

I am an American and I have my view about the way things should be. I want a better tomorrow for my kids and for future generations.  Don’t over promise and under deliver.  Simply put, ask yourself if what you want is what the American people want either today or tomorrow.  Then ask yourself  if what you are pushing for will make America a better place.  If the answer is an honest yes, support it and then I’ll probably support you.

Christ served others first.  He did not put himself in front of His people.  I, for one, am asking for the same thing from my leaders.

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A few Sundays ago, I was sitting in church at St. Richard Parish when the following story from the Bible was read:

Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.

Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?”

Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”

He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.

So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven…. Your faith has saved you; go in peace ” (Luke 7: 11-13)

After praying on this for a bit, I felt a very powerful love overcome me for both God and my wife, Becky.  I am the woman in the passage above – I am the sinner.  I am the one that came to the feet of my God and begged forgiveness for my past selfishness.  I am the one that came to Becky and asked for her help becoming a better man.

My wife, Becky and I are high school sweethearts. We were together from the day that we met, through high school, through college and until today.  We have been together a long time and we have literally grown up together.

As a younger guy, I knew what was right and I knew what was wrong as I had a very good upbringing – but at times I chose wrong for purely selfish reasons. Luckily, Becky also knew what was right and she pretty much always chose right.  When I was in college and living out some of my most sinful times, Becky asked me to “go on a spiritual journey with her”.  Knowing that would be “less fun”, I took her lead and followed because deep down I wanted to be a better man.

It was a long struggle for me over several years but God and Becky never gave up on me. Over the next few years, I began to really know and love Christ and I began to love Becky more than I even knew possible.

Today I am free to love God and my wife completely. To put it simply, I am free.

I am forever indebted to Becky. I am forever indebted to God for his mercy and as a result of God’s call to love everyone – I am forever indebted to His people – all of humankind.

I hope that I can be of service to you as the Chairman of the Cleveland Catholic Forum.

God Bless You.

Sincerely,

Joe Soltis

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Dear Friends,

As the new Chairman of the Cleveland Catholic Forum, I wanted to take a little bit of time to give you an update as to some new and exciting happenings. 

Speaking Events

Soon, you can expect to be hearing of new events which will be sponsored and put on by the Cleveland Catholic Forum.  All events will cover local, national and global issues related to Catholicism, Christianity, Faith in America and current events.  Our hope is to shape the public discourse so that it places more emphasis on God, the Church, and the values and freedoms that built our great nation.

You can expect the Cleveland Catholic Forum to be bringing in dynamic and influential speakers in the upcoming months and year.  Our speakers will engage our audiences and hopefully lead them into deeper faith with God, while at the same time, show practical ways to improve life on a personal as well as a community level.

Global Reach through the Internet

We have developed a completely new web site.  We will have new information on our web site daily for your enjoyment.  This information includes the latest Catholic news headlines and Cleveland Catholic Forum articles placed on the right side of every page of our web site, global and national news from a Christian perspective on our News page, local Catholic events which you can submit and read, as well as the latest Cleveland Catholic Forum News on our Home page.

Chairman’s Thoughts

To give a large boost to our global reach, I will be writing a web blog entitled, Chairman’s Thoughts.  This blog will be updated several times per week with information about local, national and global issues related to Christianity, Catholicism, Faith in America and current events.  In addition, I will also offer some insight into upcoming Cleveland Catholic Forum events.

All of this information will be then picked up by various news feeds and “broadcasted” throughout the Internet.  My hope is that you will be a regular reader by adding this web page to your list of Internet favorites.

Prayer

The Cleveland Catholic Forum will continue its monthly Holy Hour at Saint Paul’s Shrine on the 1st Thursday of every month from 6:45pm to 7:45pm.  Please join us and the Greater Cleveland Community for this great opportunity to pray as an enthusiastic community.

Conclusion

As the chairman, I also want to be very accessible to you.  If you ever have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by filling out the “Contact The Cleveland Catholic Forum Chairman” form on our Contact page.  I will make every effort to personally reply to your message.

There are a lot of new and exciting things happening.  I hope that I, as well as all members of the Cleveland Catholic Forum board, are of service to you.

Kind Regards,

Joe Soltis
Chairman, Cleveland Catholic Forum

P.S.  I want to give a big thank you to Lee Jarocki, the outgoing Chairman of the Cleveland Catholic Forum.  Lee has done a tremendous job leading the Forum from its very inception.  I could not imagine the tremendous amount of work that it must have took to build this group into what it is today, starting with absolutely nothing but faith.  Please keep Lee in your prayers as he pursues his studies at St. Mary’s Seminary. 

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