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Our Mission Trip to Ethiopia Needs Your Support
Posted by Joe Soltis on 11 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
Give Water, An Education, & Faith to the Poor Children of Ethiopia
Click Here to Give Water, Education & Faith to an Ethiopian Child.
So, why am I telling you about this?
After spending time with Marin I felt compelled to do something. We are now asking for your help to give water, education and faith to the children of ethiopia. We are doing a two week mission trip to several villages in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2010. The Cleveland Catholic Forum, is helping to sponsor my mission trip to Ethiopia. The money raised through tax deductible donations to the Cleveland Catholic Forum will help provide for the following:
Click Here to Give Water, Education & Faith to an Ethiopian Child.
Week One of Our Mission Trip:
Providing for education for the children of Chuko and Awassa:
- The law in Ethiopia requires students to wear uniforms to school. Without a uniform, students cannot go to school. (Uniforms cost $7)
- Tuition must be paid to attend kindergarten. Regardless of age, many students still haven’t had enough money to go to kindergarten. (Tuition costs $60)
- No school supplies or books are provided for students. They must buy their own. (Supplies typically cost around $8)
Week Two of Our Mission Trip:
Digging a well in the Oromia region to provide clean drinking water for the people of this village (We are partnering with Water 1st International). In Ethiopia, only 24 percent of the population has access to safe drinking water. The lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitary latrines is the top public health problem and the number-one killer of children. Water-related diseases also cause the deaths of over 5 million people each year. Half of the victims are children under age five. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to this mission trip. We will use all money received to directly purchase uniforms and tuition for the students in need. The remainder of the donations will go to provide an additional well in the neighboring village.
Your donation can be made by Visa, MasterCard or Discover online or by mailing a check to the Cleveland Catholic Forum, P.O. Box 45293, Westlake, OH 44145. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Sabath at (440) 796-8802.
Click Here to Give Water, Education & Faith to an Ethiopian Child. Thank you so much for your prayers and generosity!
May God Bless you!
Amy Sabath,
Board Member, Cleveland Catholic Forum
Join the Cleveland Catholic Forum: Sexuality & Being A Teenager
Posted by Joe Soltis on 09 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
For Two Powerful Talks
Parents Get Real! Talk to your Teen about Love!
&
True Love. . . How Will I Know?
Join the Cleveland Catholic Forum and speaker and radio talk show host Patty Schneier on Sunday, October 4th at St. Basil in Brecksville for two powerful talks, the 1st talk Parents Get Real! Talk to your Teen about Love! is for parents, the 2nd talk True Love. . . How Will I Know? is for teens.
When:
Sunday, October 4th
Parent Talk 4:00-5:00
Teen Mass 5:30 to 6:30
Teen Talk: 6:30 to 7:30Where:
St. Basil the Great
8700 Brecksville Rd.
Brecksville, OH 44141
Talk Overviews:
Parents Get Real! Talk to your Teen about Love!
In As a current mother of teenagers and a former high school teacher, Patty has a heart and a passion for teens—and their parents. Parents, Get Real is a message of hope for parents who sometimes struggle for the right words to say regarding love, life, dating, sex, and marriage. She offers practical tips and suggestions to help parents discuss the Truth about love and the many counterfeits in our culture.True Love. . .How Will I Know
In this talk Patty Schneier invites teens to learn the meaning of real love. With Christ as the supreme example, Patty explains how we are called to love one another as Christ loved us, in and through our bodies. True love, the “real thing,” speaks to the deepest desires of our hearts. We want it; we were created for this authentic love. But it is only when we know what true love is—and what true love communicates—that we can recognize a counterfeit. This talk is filled with personal stories and real-life examples. But most of all, this talk will help teens decide for themselves that the “real thing” is worth the wait!
This event is free to attend and open to the public. Youth groups are especially invited to attend.
There will be ample parking at the church for the event.
Questions? Please contact the Cleveland Catholic Forum at 440-623-9183.
Out of Control Federal Spending Threatens America
Posted by Joe Soltis on 25 Aug 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
The fact is that huge budget deficits undermine the foundation of the United States and global economy. Responsible fiscal policy is the only way to give America a prosperous future.
See How The Federal Deficit With Hundreds of Trillions of Dollars in Unfunded Liabilities Puts Us At Risk. This is a moral issue as a free world needs a prosperous America.
Sergeant Randolph Kloos - Recipient of Award of Service & Valor
Posted by Joe Soltis on 08 Aug 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
On August 22nd, at the Center for Pastoral Leadership, the Cleveland Catholic Forum will present the Cleveland Catholic Forum Award of Service & Valor to Sergeant Randolph Kloos. Here is his amazing story:
Sergeant Randolph Thomas Kloos is an American hero, right from our own backyard in Cleveland. He serves his country and God with love, courage, and strength throughout his enlistment in the United States Army.
Randy volunteered for the United States Army after the September 11th terrorist attacks. He loved his country and he wanted to defend it. He talked a lot about this decision with his family, in particular his mom, Janet. She feared terribly for her son and was resistant to the idea of him enlisting, but given his drive to serve, she was moved to bless her son’s enlistment. Randy Kloos’ family fell to their knees to beg for God’s protection of their son.
In his first tour of duty in Iraq, he served in the 1st Infantry Division. He saw some of the bloodiest fighting in the war, going house to house, looking for terrorists with orders to capture or kill them. He was shot at and threatened with death from rockets, suicide bombers, or roadside bombs on a daily basis. He exercised extreme restraint and courage; not firing shots at the enemy if there was a very real possibility of harming innocent civilians. He saw the worst of war: murdered innocent Iraqi citizens and children, dead friends, killed brothers in arms. He used his faith and his love of God and country to get through these difficult times.
In LCpl Andrew S. Kloos’, US Marine Corps (Ret.), Randy’s brother, words:
“He always carried himself as a representative for our culture to the Iraqi people. He proved his loyalty to helping the Iraqi people by defending their neighborhoods, training Iraqi soldiers and giving medical treatment to wounded Iraqis. He also cared for the needy in Iraq by giving them food and water. He even reached out to the Iraqi children giving them candy and soccer balls. Before Randy left for Iraq my father told him that no matter what happens in Iraq - God will decide when you will meet him and nothing else. I believe these words of wisdom enabled Randy to show courage under fire and the ability to save his fellow soldiers when by doing so put himself in peril.”
Yet, his love of country and his courage to serve it and protect the men under his command is only one-half of the story. His faith, personal sacrifice, and character is the rest of the story.
Randy trained at a U.S base in Germany for his fighting in Iraq. During this time he met a woman by the name of Chantel and he fell deeply in love with her. He then served his 1st tour of duty in Iraq, and afterward, got engaged. Then before returning to Iraq, he got married at an old Catholic Church in Bavaria that escaped the ravages of World War II. His son, Dean, was born on December 27, 2008. He got to see his wife and newborn son for 2 weeks, and then he headed back to Iraq. He never really complained about this, despite the drag on his heart of not being able to physically be there for his wife and son. He is also deeply missed his family back home in America.
Amidst all of this, Randy went into combat zones daily. His father, Jim Kloos, told us a story how when out on a mission, his son saw that an Iraqi woman was bleeding to death. Randy then put his life at risk to administer first aid to her and he saved her life. Had he not done so she would be dead. He risked his life to save hers. It is acts of love such as this that show the true magnitude of his character.
Faith is what has sustained Randy through these difficult times. He takes his Catholic faith seriously. He is a graduate of St. Edward High School and a member of St. Mark’s Parish. Even as a kid, if his classmates were goofing off during Mass or saying negative comments about the faith, he would correct them. While serving in Iraq, Randy has carried a small pocket-sized Bible with him into combat. He has read from it in the midst of war, giving himself courage and giving courage to the men around him. On Sundays he often had to go into combat and wasn’t able to go to church, his pocket-sized Bible was the next best thing. He read from it for courage, love and inspiration.
He often talks with his brothers in arms about faith and God’s love. There is a young man in Randy’s unit who does not believe in God. The soldier was spared on six occasions coming within inches from death. The sixth time the soldier dodged death, Randy screamed to him shortly after, “Do you believe in God NOW?!”
Randy served his 1st tour of duty in the First Infantry Division. Today he is serving his second tour of duty in Iraq in the Alpha Company 1-2, Task Force 366, in the 174th Brigade.
He is a man of tremendous courage, faith, and love. He embodies what a United States solider is and should be. He gives hope to all of us for a better America through his sacrifice and the magnitude of his character. For his service, leadership and sacrifice, he is highly deserving of the Cleveland Catholic Forum Award of Service and Valor. We at the Cleveland Catholic Forum look forward to giving him this award, through his family, on August 22nd, while he is still valiantly serving our country in Iraq.
When is The Event:
Saturday, August 22, 2009
6:30 PM - Open Bar & Silent Auction Start
7:00 PM - Dinner & Music
After Dinner - Award Ceremoney & Keynote Address by Archbishop Timothy Broglio
Where:
Center for Pastoral Leadership Founder’s Room 28700 Euclid Avenue Wickliffe, OH 44092
How to Reserve Seats:
Tickets are $50 per person, a 100% tax-deductible donation, and may be reserved by going to ClevelandCatholicForum.com, or by calling Joe Soltis at 440-623-9183.
Say Thank You to A Soldier
Posted by Joe Soltis on 01 Aug 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
I, myself, have never been in battle, or seen the horrors of war. Yet, in the process of searching for the recipient of the Cleveland Catholic Forum’s Award of Service & Valor, I have talked with several soldiers, several brothers and sisters, and many moms and dads, who have sent their beloved off to war. Many of the stories have moved me deeply and ignited in my heart a more fervent respect for the American solider. Here are some questions to ask ourselves to show us how grateful we should be.
Did you enlist in the war simply because you wanted to defend your country after 9/11?
Have you accepted, willingly and knowingly, that daily you could lose your life in service of your country and loved ones?
Have you put yourself in the line of fire, and put yourself in more risk than truly necessary simply to better protect the lives of the soldiers under your command?
Did you see your friends blown up around you?
In the midst of a battle, with explosions around you, did you stop fighting to save the life of an Iraqi woman, who would have been killed by extremists?
Have you been to hell for months at a time, and kept your faith in God and helped to strengthen the faith of those around you?
These questions reflect the hard truth of what really has happened in this war on terrorism. All of them inspiring. You won’t really find a word about it in the press - maybe only if they had lost their own life in battle. Yet these are the real daily lives of tens of thousands of men and women who have been valiantly doing their duty for our country, while we have enjoyed the peacefulness of our daily lives and the richness that America provides.
Most Americans have a deep thankfulness in their hearts to the men and women of the United States military. My friends, it’s time to let that be known. Say thank you to a soldier, for I tell you this: you owe them your life, your job, your home, your faith, and your freedoms. They are protecting you. At a minimum, you owe them a thank you, a prayer, and maybe a nice cold beer!
So with gratitude deep in my heart, I say:
Dear American Solider,
May God Bless you. May God protect you and our beloved nation. My beloved wife and kids sleep in peace at night because of you. I owe you my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Yours,
Joe Soltis, An American
Speak Out Against “Hate Crimes” Legislation
Posted by Joe Soltis on 16 Jun 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
The Obama administration has signaled that it plans to secure passage of S.909, the “Hate Crimes” bill, this week. The House has already passed and the Senate is expected to vote this week on legislation that would create a new class of crimes based on the victim’s “actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.” Even more troubling is that S.909 could create special protections for pedophiles. Democrats voted down an amendment to the bill that would have excluded pedophilia and other “sexual orientations” from the definition of “sexual orientation.”“If a mother hears that their child has been raped, and she slaps the assailant with her purse, she is now gone after as a hate criminal because this is a protected class,” said Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas.Click here to get the direct telephone number for your two senators, along with suggested talking points for your call. Call your senators today to demand politely, but firmly, that they vote against S.909. Congress has refused to define the term “sexual orientation,” which means that all sexual orientations are protected.
For years, AFA and other pro-family groups have issued warnings about federal Hate Crimes legislation. The reality is that the purpose of this bill is to silence those who speak out against homosexuality. If the legislation passes, pastors could be prosecuted under the federal inducement statute for preaching the biblical view of homosexuality. For example, a person could commit an act of violence against a homosexual individual and blame it on the pastor’s sermon. Similar laws have been used to prosecute religious speech in the U.S. at the state level and abroad.
The Senate is poised to pass S. 909, the “Hate Crimes” bill, unless there are an overwhelming number of phone calls today.
Home Bible Study Banned in San Diego
Posted by Joe Soltis on 29 May 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
A San Diego pastor says county officials have told him he needs a permit to host a weekly Bible study in his home.
Pastor David Jones and his wife, Mary, were hosting the weekly study near their church, when they say they were visited by a county code enforcement officer. According to Dean Broyles, an attorney for the Joneses, the county official asked the pastor if they hosted a regular weekly meeting in their home, and if they prayed and said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord” at those meetings.
After replying in the affirmative to those inquiries, a subsequent citation notified the couple they were in violation of county regulations, should stop “religious assembly,” and needed to apply for a “major use” permit to continue the gatherings — a process that could cost several thousands of dollars.
Jones, his wife, and their attorney, Dean Broyles, were interviewed on the Fox News Channel. Broyles says the couple’s rights have been violated.
“The government may not prohibit the free exercise of religion,” says the attorney. “And I believe that our Founding Fathers would roll over in their graves if they saw that here in the year 2009 that a pastor and his wife are being told that they can’t have a simple Bible study in their own home.”
The American Family Association has launched an online petition drive related to the incident, asking the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to immediately stop interfering with the rights of individuals to hold Bible studies in their homes.
Jones and his wife say they will continue to challenge the county’s policy. About 15 people attend the weekly meetings.
This, my fellow Americans, is untolerable and un-American. Stand up for liberty!!!
Honoring the Men & Women of the U.S. Armed Forces
Posted by Joe Soltis on 23 May 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
Saints Dinner and Silent Auction
Honoring the Men & Women of the U.S. Armed Forces
The Most Reverend Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of United States Military Services, joins the Cleveland Catholic Forum for our Saints Dinner and Silent Auction as we celebrate the life of soldier, St. Ignatius Loyola. You won’t want to miss this evening of fine food, beverage and inspiration as we honor the men & women of the United States Armed Forces & present the Cleveland Catholic Forum Award of Service & Valor to a local military hero.Click Here to Register.
When:
Saturday, August 22, 2008
6:30 PM - Open Bar & Silent Auction Start
7:00 PM - Dinner & Music
After Dinner - Keynote Address by Archbishop Timothy Broglio
Where:
Center for Pastoral Leadership
Founder’s Room
28700 Euclid Avenue
Wickliffe, OH 44092
Cost:
$50.00 per person, a 100% tax-deductible donation
The deadline for registration is Monday, August 17th.
Click Here to Register.
You can download and print out the event flyer here. Please post this flyer at your local parish and share it with friends.
Questions?
Contact us at saintsdinner@clevelandcatholicforum.com or 440-623-9183.
Obama’s Department of Homeland Security: Conseratives Are Terrorists
Posted by Joe Soltis on 16 Apr 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
The assessment reads like a sophomore’s bad political science essay in, for example, noting that right-wing extremism “may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.”
“This is an very unfortunately named document,” Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Sara Kudon told me.
No lie.
The not-quite-classified but-also-not-meant-for-public-distribution assessment reads like a rookie mistake penned by political lightweights. But Kudan told me it was written by “career officials,” who had been working on the assessment for more than a year. (Read: DHS started working on this when George W. Bush was in charge.) That career officials would write such tripe should scare you.
Fox News posted a Jan. 26, 2009, assessment entitled, “Left-wing Extremists Likely to Increase Use of Cyber-Attacks Over the Coming Decade.” This would suggest equal-opportunity political targeting. Not so. The “left-wing” assessment named entities - the Earth Liberation Front, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, The Hacktivist, the Internet Liberation Front - and explained the methods used in specific and recent cyber-attacks. It also warned how specific groups - loggers, farmers and named corporations - were or could be targeted. That is, the “left-wing” assessment included information that would be useful to officials investigating crimes.
The “right-wing” document, however, targeted not activities, but political thought - opposition to abortion, immigration amnesty and gun laws. While the “left-wing” assessment reported on known criminal activities, the “right-wing” document started with the acknowledgment that Department of Homeland Security intelligence “has no specific information that domestic right-wing terrorists are currently planning acts of violence.”Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/04/15/ED5I1727J0.DTL
This, my fellow Americans, means that within the eyes of the Obama Administration you are a possible terrorist if you are pro-life, pro-second amendment (which means pro-constitution), for a secure border, or returning as a veteran from the wars in
Iraq or Afghanistan. Are there any facts behind this assessment? No. It is completely made up. This is big-brother at best, treason at worst. This is unacceptable from our government. This is not change we can beleive in, this is just stupid. What’s next, will church goers be named terrorists because they believe in God?
A $14,000,000,000,000 Debt
Posted by Joe Soltis on 03 Apr 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
The new $3.6 trillion budget includes a deficit of $1.2 trillion. One third of the budget is deficit spending, money we don’t have! That is on top of the $12 trillion we already owe. How much is $1 trillion? Consider this: A million seconds is 11.5 days. A billion seconds is 32 years. A trillion seconds is 32,000 years. We must strongly oppose this.This reckless spending is a moral issue. We are passing on to our grandchildren a debt that we created. Every man, woman and child in the country already owes $35,000, and we are piling more debt on them. We are robbing them of their right to enjoy the American Dream. This plan, in the long run, will causes tax rates to skyrocket, the economy to stagnate, people’s income to drop, current Social Security and Medicare obligations to be impossible to meet. This economic nightmare will lead to a decline in the U.S.’s ability to lead the world and, who I ask you will then step in our place? Will they have respect for life, liberty, private property, human life, and God? We deserve better!
