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May 15th, 2012 by paulcoholic
The The Catholic Sun, newspaper of the Diocese of Phoenix, AZ has written 2 reviews of my books, The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics and The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts.
Robert Curtis is the reviewer. According to the Sun’s bio of him, he is “a life-professed Lay Dominican, is the author of 17 books, holds a master’s in creative writing, teaches composition at the University of Phoenix and creative writing at Rio Salado College.”
One of my favorite passages: “Sofranko, a recovering alcoholic himself, has added one more element to the whole scheme of fighting addiction — hope. While many or even most self-help books suggest that we are the only ones capable of fixing our brokenness simply by reading the book, Sofranko elevates the place of prayer in the healing process and reminds readers of the necessity of relying on God for the grace to overcome our addictions.”
More good stuff can be found at the review, right here: Author offers two Catholic takes on recovery
(Via The Catholic Sun.)
May 15th, 2012 by paulcoholic
Today is the anniversary of the 1949 death of Peter Maurin. He was a Catholic social activist who founded the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933 with Dorothy Day. Maurin lived the Gospel in an uncompromising fashion. I have read his biography (written by Dorothy Day) and to me his approach to Christ and the Gospel was on a par with St. Francis of Assisi.
Peter Maurin is of particular interest to this blog due to his alleged suggestion to start homes (sort of like our “Halfway Houses” of today) that would help alcoholics recover by pairing them with reformed prostitutes. His idea being that the ex-drunks could help the ex-prostitutes maintain their newly recovered chastity, while the ex-hookers can help the former alcoholics stay sober. Not sure how he arrived at the idea if it was true, but it apparently never was enacted. It would have been an interesting approach to alcohol recovery. I say “alleged” and “if it were true” as Day’s biography of him never mentioned it, and her autobiography, which contains a lot of information on his life and thought, doesn’t refer to it either.
So, if the idea is apocryphal (and I don’t even remember where I first heard of it, this post has been in “Drafts” for over a year, waiting for today to be edited and published), it did lead me to read up on him and Day and has lead me to a greater appreciation of Catholic social teachings and a desire to apply them and live them out. I have touched upon them before, in the “Service and Volunteering” subject category. I may expand upon them in the future.
One unfortunate response to Catholic social teachings is that practitioners of them quite often fall into positions that dissent from general Catholic teaching. Catholicism is not easy. It cannot be labelled or pigeon-holed into the political “Left” or “Right.” In examining Catholic social teaching, with its positions on work and labor, poverty, the environment, indigenous peoples and such, it is easy to be seduced into the political Left and consequently fall astray of the Church’s moral teachings on things like abortion, sexuality, marriage and property. This may even affect the person’s understanding of Catholic theology. Catholic political and social philosophy is “Catholic” (universal) and not liberal or conservative. Some may find it hard to hold fidelity to both Catholic social and moral teachings, as well as Catholic theology.
It requires effort, but it is possible to be faithful to Catholic teachings as a whole, despite the seeming contradictions of “How can one be a social activist, working to alleviate poverty and injustice, and also be anti-abortion and anti-gay rights?” Well, if one studies not just WHAT the Church teaches, but also WHY it teaches this or that, one can grasp an understanding and reconcile the “contradictions.” The easy way is to be prideful, declare that the Church teaching that conflicts with your political or social philosophy is “archaic” and then decide to disregard it.
Being a Catholic isn’t easy. Too many fall under the weight of it and simplify things and therefore stray away from what Jesus calls the “narrow gate.”
Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leads to perdition, and many there are who enter through it. How narrow is the gate, and how straight is the way, which leads to life, and few there are who find it!”
(Via Catholic Public Domain Version of the Sacred Bible.)
Wikipedia, the “free encyclopedia”, has this excellent overview of his life, with links to the Catholic Worker Movement and Dorothy Day: Peter Maurin
(Via Wikipedia.)
April 21st, 2012 by paulcoholic
St. Francis Mission Among the Lakota is having a fund-raising activity during the month of April and early May called Operation: Backpack.
Operation: Backpack is a campaign to raise new items and funds for their “Body, Mind and Soul” camps and also their childhood education programs. According to the Mission’s website, the “Body, Mind, and Soul Camp” provides religious education and recreation to children in various communities around the reservation. Many of children who participate would otherwise never have any contact with the Church or the Mission. The Mission’s religious education teachers, young Jesuits in formation, Jesuit Volunteers, and students from Jesuit high schools from around the United States staff these sessions.
In 2012, they are scheduled to have over 200 children join them in five different locations around the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. The “Body, Mind and Soul” camp joins the children of the Rosebud Reservation with volunteers from all over the country in a week filled with learning and fun. Throughout April and part of May, they will be sharing video, photos, and testimonials from program leaders, donors and volunteers.
There are various ways you can assist. The link above enables you to follow along during the event. Also, they have the St. Francis Mission “Operation: Backpack” Wish List on Amazon.com. You can also donate directly by way of this link.
The Mission is a good friend of SoberCatholic.com, I have blogged about them before: St. Francis Mission.
Thanks to Corrie at Corrie Oberdin {dot} Net | for the heads-upon this!
April 11th, 2012 by paulcoholic
The mother-in-law of a friend of mine on Google+ may face imminent discharge from a hospital because “she has already cost the insurance company too much money.” She has been diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor. She was due to receive surgery for it when the insurance company called and stopped all further payment due to the costs. The surgery cannot be approved. My friend issued an urgent prayer request on Google+, which has been picked up by others and posted to other social networks. The prayer request is here:
“We need prayers here! It’s been like an episode of House trying to figure out what’s wrong with my mother-in-law.
They figured out it is a pancreatic tumor and are ready to remove it and insurance called in a 100% full stop to payments saying she’s cost them too much to approve surgery now, too. We have 4.5 hours before the hospital discharges her.”
The 4.5 hours is up at about 3:00 ET (USA) or 1900 GMT/UTC.
This is grossly unconscionable to place money above the life of a person. This is a basic decency. No matter what the cost, or whatever the survival rate is, to put money before a life is pure evil.
This quantification of a human life, that after a certain point “you are just too much of a burden,” or “too much of a cost” is reprehensible and not at all defensible from any valid moral standpoint.
It is a symptom of the sickness of society, that a life has a dollar value (or Euro, Pound Sterling, whatever) and after a point, just pull the plug.
Western civilization is in a decay. It needs to be revived and the only way to do that is to get out there and evangelize. Speak the Gospel Truth, live it as best one can, and confront the forces of evil and darkness when they present their ugly agenda.
One of Christianity’s best teachings is that we are made in the image and likeness of God and that we have an inherent dignity for that reason. Plus, we are adopted children of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. No other religion claims anything like that. Judaism may be close inasmuch they are our elder family in the Faith, and they are the Chosen People of God. But, Judaism is not a faith that seeks to convert others. We Christians can go out and bring people into the fullness of Divine Truth, and in doing so heal humanity of the sickness that is going on that allows my friend’s mother-in-law to possibly die without the surgery that can enable her to live. All because she “costs too much.”
An update from my friend: “Last night I contacted their state assemblyman and I wrote the Dept. of Insurance. The surgeon has pulled major, major strings behind the scenes with the hospital as well. The phone started ringing at 8:05 this morning. The insurance company is now caving on almost everything, but it isn’t definite yet.
They approved her ICU stay.
They approved all her tests and procedures.
The surgeons are confidant that they’ll have the surgery approved, but it isn’t yet. The surgeons are saying they’re doing the surgery no matter what.
They are denying her hospital stay on the regular floor saying she did not need to be in-patient in between ICU and surgery. This is 4 days in the hospital they’re refusing to pay for.
Everyone knows if she’d left she’d not be able to get the surgery covered so that isn’t an option, and this is definite improvement as the most expensive stuff is covered, but the outstanding approval for surgery in the morning and then the insurance nightmare that will be waiting post-surgery are the big issues right now, which is such a huge relief compared to last night! Please keep up the prayers today!”
UPDATE FROM TODAY: “My mother-in-law is now recuperating from surgery! They removed her tumor and everything was as perfect as possible! We haven’t heard anything from insurance or the business office.
Please pray in gratitude for the surgery. For her swift, full, and uneventful recovery. For God’s blessings on her surgeon, Michael. For our children who are missing home. And for the financial situation to be worked out to provide for all involved as they need. Thank you prayer warriors for storming heaven!
…
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! She’s not coming to as we would hope. Over 24hrs later and she’s still pretty out of it. We were also told today that no headway has been made on the insurance.
The nurses and docs continue to be fantastic. My husband is flying home today in a lightning storm. I’m enjoying while I can that vegetarianism is taken for granted here so choices are clearly labeled and abundant. Small pleasures.  “
April 5th, 2012 by paulcoholic
Just an update to let people know that my new book, “The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts” is now available from Amazon.com in both PRINT and KINDLE editions.
To obtain a print edition, Amazon offers it here: The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts, and also through their CreateSpace division here:
The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts on CreateSpace.
“The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts” helps people to reflect on their recovery and relationships with others, and ultimately with Jesus Himself. Whether people are still struggling with their addictions, or have been clean and sober for a few weeks, months, or years, the reflections will lead them to meditate on the spiritual growth they have achieved so far.
The book takes a time-honored prayer and brings it into a useful format for people to pause and reflect on their recovery, their relationships with others, and ultimately with Jesus Himself. Whether people are still struggling with their addictions, or have been clean and sober for a few weeks or months, or many years, the reflections for each Mystery of the Rosary will help them meditate on the spiritual growth they have achieved so far. Over the years, their thoughts on each meditation may change, depending on “where they’re at” in their recovery journey.
It is also available through Smashwords, for a variety of ebook formats. If you can’t wait for it to be available through Barnes & Noble for the Nook or Apple for you iPad and other iThingies, try Smashwords!
April 2nd, 2012 by paulcoholic
My new book: The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts is now available through Amazon for their Kindle device and reader apps.
Amazon.com: The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts at the Kindle Store.
If you would prefer a print edition, Amazon’s CreateSpace offers it here: The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts on CreateSpace.
The book helps people to reflect on their recovery and relationships with others, and ultimately with Jesus Himself. Whether people are still struggling with their addictions, or have been clean and sober for a few weeks, months, or years, the reflections will lead them to meditate on the spiritual growth they have achieved so far.
It takes a time-honored prayer and brings it into a useful format for people to pause and reflect on their recovery, their relationships with others, and ultimately with Jesus Himself. Whether people are still struggling with their addictions, or have been clean and sober for a few weeks or months, or many years, the reflections for each Mystery of the Rosary will help them meditate on the spiritual growth they have achieved so far. Over the years, their thoughts on each meditation may change, depending on “where they’re at” in their recovery journey.
It is also available through Smashwords, for a variety of ebook formats. If you can’t wait for it to be available through Barnes & Noble for the Nook or Apple for you iPad and other iThingies, try Smashwords!
April 1st, 2012 by paulcoholic
A new ebook I have written for Catholics and other Christians suffering from alcoholism and addiction is out:
The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts. The book helps people to reflect on their recovery and relationships with others, and ultimately with Jesus Himself. Whether people are still struggling with their addictions, or have been clean and sober for a few weeks, months, or years, the reflections will lead them to meditate on the spiritual growth they have achieved so far.
So far, it is available only through Smashwords, but print editions from CreateSpace and Amazon will be out perhaps this week, as well as an ebook version for Kindle.
The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts takes a time-honored prayer and brings it into a useful format for people to pause and reflect on their recovery, their relationships with others, and ultimately with Jesus Himself. Whether people are still struggling with their addictions, or have been clean and sober for a few weeks or months, or many years, the reflections for each Mystery of the Rosary will help them meditate on the spiritual growth they have achieved so far. Over the years, their thoughts on each meditation may change, depending on “where they’re at” in their recovery journey.
March 29th, 2012 by paulcoholic
Today I celebrate 4 years of wedded bliss to Rose, of ARTIST4GOD, Fine Art America, and Artist4God on Zazzle.com fame.
Marriage is good. I can go on about the sacramental and sacrificial aspects of marriage, maybe even some of the theological elements of it. I can also go on forever about the romantic and emotional parts of marriage.
But there are better bloggers than I who can do all of that (except maybe the romantic and emotional stuff). I will just say one thing, and that one thing is in the context of this blog (that of recovery from alcoholism): Marriage can be a sign of success. I know it isn’t for everybody. For some, it is a huge mistake. But if you’ve struggled with alcoholism or some other addiction, you understand how difficult it might be to form normal relationships afterwards. But marriage means that you’ve successfully convinced someone else that you’re a good risk, and that they’ll go along with you for the ride (hopefully keeping in mind Catholic teaching on the indissolubility of marriage).
Bearing in mind that there are zillions of people who are not married and who would love to be, and seemingly half of them are friends of mine: this is not directed at you all. Seriously. There may be legitimate reasons why you’re not married, and none mean that you are a loser or are unloveable.
The right One hasn’t shown up yet. God hasn’t finished making you for the One yet. This is for all who believe that there is someone out there “made for them.” Well, creation and the formation of the person doesn’t end with birth, high school or college graduation, or getting that first job or buying a house. Or maybe, just maybe, you are not comfortable with who you are and so are not living truthfully (not being the real you). If that is the case then the One God Made for You will not recognize you as the One God Made for Them. Think about that. If you’re not living out the life and personality you’re supposed to be, how can you find the one you’re supposed to be with?
Or maybe the time isn’t right yet. But that may be just a restatement of the last paragraph.
I doubt my Rosie would have married me 5+ years ago. (I’m 49 so that “+” goes back 25-ish years.)
Whatever. Marriage is good, if you marry the right person.
March 28th, 2012 by paulcoholic
From time to time I have attempted to earn funds from this blog. Nothing much ever came of them, but I also didn’t put in tons of effort, either. I even tried a bleg (blog beg) after last American Thanksgiving. The silence was deafening. I became sad and almost quit blogging. Anyway, I’ve also tried affiliate linking (only ones left are those that link to my wife’s sites, the others didn’t pan out for one reason or another, mainly ease of use and such) and Google Adsense. Google Adsense I didn’t care for as there is no way to control what kind of ads are run: they are based on context of words in the posts and sidebar links, and since this is a Catholic blog about alcoholism, I had tons of ads, many inappropriate, on alcohol treatment and some uncertain Catholic ones.
Well, I’m trying again. I joined a site called “SwagBucks”. It is a place where you can earn points, a/k/a “SwagBucks” and redeem them for stuff. If you wish to check it out and decide to join, please go and use this referral link, or just click on the badge over on the right that says “Earn Swagbucks.” As a referral, I earn a percentage of whatever you earn. A good way to spread the joy.
Pelenaka, over at thirtyfivebyninety, a nice blog I found on homesteading and simple, frugal living, is a member of “SwagBucks”. Pelenaka writes about it here: Get Your Swag on a.k.a Swagbucks
(Via thirtyfivebyninety.)
OK, start Swaggin’. 
Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics — A SoberCatholic.com book
March 26th, 2012 by paulcoholic
Freedom, the lack of it, the excess of it, or the abuse of it, is an undercurrent of the culture wars of today. Everyone wants it, everyone pretty much gets resentful when someone else uses it, and what it means for one person doesn’t necessarily hold for another. Nevertheless, what is freedom to the Christian?
True freedom is freedom from sin. Sin cuts us off from God. Sin prevents us from fulfilling our potential as true adopted children of God. Sin is an offense against God and also an offense against other people’s dignity and our own.
No one is sinless, and we all suffer from the effects of sin and of repeatedly falling into a state of sin (concupiscence). Nevertheless the struggle to resist temptation mirrors the struggle for freedom. We all struggle to get what we want that we think would make us “free.”. It may be things we feel we are entitled to and things we are responsible for and take care of and things we are obligated to do. Responsibilities and obligations do not curtail our freedom, despite the fact that in fulfilling them, we may not be doing what we’d prefer. Selfishness is an abuse of freedom. We are not isolated individuals, we are a part of a community of people (although that seems hard to fathom at times) and our freedom should not really be at the expense of others.
The struggle against the flesh, a war fought from Adam and Eve’s time that manifests itself most vividly today in the culture wars (Life versus “Choice”, Christianity versus the World, etc.) is a battle fraught with pain and anxiety. The constant war against temptations, difficult to do in the excessively sexualized Western countries, has damaged individuals and societies.
For those of us addicted to something, we remember the relief we felt when we succumbed to the addiction. Perhaps we realized that we drank too much and tried to stop, either by our own efforts or through a 12 Step program. We tried real hard, resisting the urge to drink and remember feeling trapped by our desires. Relief was all that we desired, but it was to no avail until we drank again. And then we felt free.
But it was a false freedom, for we remained trapped by the addiction. The temporary relief sufficed for a while, and after a period of time we felt the draw to drink again. We might struggle against the temptation, and we might win or succumb again depending upon circumstances.
But the temptation is often there. As it is with us now after a period of sobriety, the temptation for something is not far away. I remember a few years ago I was feeling frustrated in my sobriety, that I couldn’t “do anything fun.” I remember praying to have a “safe vice.”
Nowadays many people are cross-addicted, (addicted to several things). Quite often sex or pornography is the other addiction.
As I said above it is hard to resist such things in the hyper-sexualized world of today.
There are no easy answers in how to cope with temptation. No quick and easy solutions. Satan will keep hammering away at you until he succeeds. There is temporary respite in the form of prayer, Bible reading, attending Mass or Adoration, or going to Confession. Once I immerse myself in “Church stuff” such as those, I feel the wolves have been scared away. I feel more fully reconnected to God and holiness and I feel truly free. I feel close to God and the community of the Church, I feel more like the way I am supposed to be. Truly free, unencumbered by the shackles of addiction or temptation or desires of the world.
There may be some value in temptation. Satan isn’t going to bother with you if you are in his clutches. If you are in a state of mortal sin, he won’t bother tempting you. You already belong to him. Even if you have committed only a number of venial sins, he may not bother you that much. Not to imply that that there is a formula like ‘x’ number of venial sins = 1 mortal sin, but the cumulative effect of numerous venial sins may make it easier for you to commit a mortal sin. Sort of like a snowball effect, it gets bigger and bigger unless it is checked. You become prone to immorality, it is only a matter of time before you find yourself deeper in it. So, temptation may be a sign of your holiness. Do some “Church stuff” and increase the holiness. It helps you to rebound after you do sin. This is what defined the saints. Sure, they all lead holy lives of heroic virtue. They needed heroism to be victorious over sin. They always picked themselves up after a fall.
So that is it. Like the contradiction of the Cross, wherein death brings life:
1 Corinthians 1:23: “But we are preaching Christ crucified. Certainly, to the Jews, this is a scandal, and to the Gentiles, this is foolishness.”
(Via Sacred Bible: Catholic Public Domain Version.)
Truth is sometimes confounding. God’s Truth usually confounds human reason to the point of seeming ridiculous. So it is with “true freedom,” it is not what we normally think it is.
Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics — A SoberCatholic.com book
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