ISSUES TO CONSIDER WHEN TEMPTED TO ABANDON YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH

5 QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Author Anna Quindlen has been in the news lately, promoting a new book called Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake. She recently spoke with NPR's Terry Gross about a wide range of topics she covers in the book, including her recent decision to leave the Catholic Church. She summarized this decision by telling Gross:

The pedophilia scandals, the church's reaction to them, and their constant obsession with gynecology -- taken together at a certain point, it was probably two or three years ago, I said, 'Enough.' Every time I sit in the pew I ratify this behavior, and I'm not going to ratify it anymore.

I'm sure that Quindlen's words resonated with many. She's a gifted writer, and has undoubtedly put words to what others have thought when they make the decision to leave the Catholic Church. Like Quindlen, many people who abandon their Catholic faith still believe in God and still strive to be good, moral people; they choose to leave because they think that they will find these things they desire -- God, freedom, equality -- outside the walls of the Church. Such a move certainly fits in with popular cultural beliefs. Common wisdom states that the Catholic Church is a corrupt organization that places oppressive, unnecessary rules on its members. The way to find freedom, the thinking goes, is to ditch the institution and create a spirituality and moral code that works for you.

To modern ears, this all sounds right. But is it true?

As someone whose faith journey has gone in the opposite direction, I would encourage Quindlen, as well anyone else who has followed her path or is thinking of following it, to consider the following five questions before abandoning the Catholic faith:

1. ARE YOU SURE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH HIERARCHY ARE WORSE THAN ANYONE ELSE?

When people cite the pedophilia scandals as a key reason for abandoning the Church, I worry that they're setting themselves up for deep disappointment. The fact that priests abused children is an idea so horrific that one can hardly bear to think about it, and the fact that some bishops didn't take action to stop it is almost worse. But the chilling fact -- perhaps so chilling that we don't can't accept it -- is that this is not a problem with Catholic priests and bishops; it's a problem with human nature. A priest is no more likely to abuse a child than a male schoolteacher, and a bishop is no more likely to cover it up than a school administrator.

The problems may have seemed worse within the Church because it is a single, worldwide organization, so it's easy to link all the bad occurrences under one umbrella. But if, for example, all the nondenominational churches on the earth were part of a cohesive worldwide system, you would almost certainly see the same issues at the same rates. Instead of each instance being lost in the anonymity of disconnected communities, when they were all considered together it would seem epidemic.

Other organizations are no more safe for children than the Church -- in fact, based on personal experience, I believe they are now less safe. Thanks to the pervasive stereotypes about Catholicism, people are lured into a false sense of security when dealing with other organizations, and end up adopting the dangerous mentality that "it couldn't happen here."

2. ARE YOU SURE YOUR FAITH LIFE WOULD BE BETTER OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH?

Keep in mind that leaving the Catholic Church means leaving the sacraments -- sacraments with real power, which are not available outside of the Church that Jesus founded. If it brings you joy to commune with Jesus spiritually, how much better is it to commune with him physically as well? And how lucky are we to have the sacrament of confession, where you can unload all your burdens, hear the words "you are forgiven," and receive special grace to help you to be the morally upright person you strive to be?

Now, those who are considering leaving the Church may struggle with believing in the supernatural power of the sacraments (in which case I'd recommend checking out these resources). But even if that's the case, within the two-thousand-year-old Church is an unfathomable treasure chest of spiritual wisdom. We have the Rosary as well as all the other time-tested prayers of the Church. Then there are the lives of the saints, countless stories that offer an inexhaustible supply of information and inspiration about how to have a rich spiritual life. And of course we have a worldwide network of monasteries and convents, and all the great religious orders. I suppose it's possible to utilize some of these spiritual resources without being a practicing Catholic, but if you believe that they're good and helpful, why sever them from the source of their wisdom?

3. ARE YOU SURE THE CHURCH'S TEACHINGS ARE WRONG?

There is a pervasive sense in modern culture that whatever spiritual tradition places the fewest moral restrictions on its adherents is most likely to be right. This idea might feel good since it appeals to our natural desire for autonomy, and certainly it is accepted as an immutable fact by modern society. And so if a person follows the path of least resistance carved out by our culture, it would be easy to drift away from all these "oppressive" teachings of the Church, without ever pausing to ask:

But are they true?

Let's take just one example: The Church's crazy-unpopular prohibition against contraception. The Church says that it's neither good for individuals nor for society for couples to use artificial birth control. It's understandable that someone's first reaction upon hearing that would be to reject this wildly counter-cultural teaching. I know that when I first heard it, I thought it was one of the most backwards, bizarre ideas I'd ever heard. But when I took a closer look, I was shocked by the wisdom behind this thinking: I realized that contraception doesn't solve the problems its proponents claim it will solve. I discovered that it makes women lose control over their bodies. I thought of the women I've known who have had abortions, and realized that almost every single one of them were using contraception when they conceived. They had been told that it would be just fine to engage in the act that creates babies, even if they were sure they couldn't have a baby. Then, when they saw the two lines on the pregnancy tests, they felt trapped and scared, believing that they had no choices outside of the walls of the local abortion facility.

Living without artificial contraception has its challenges, but it's the only system that gives women real freedom. As with so many other Catholic teachings that seemed crazy at first glance, once I took the time to understand the details of this view, I saw that there was a wealth of wisdom behind it beyond anything I could have imagined. It had seemed crazy simply because our culture has it so wrong, and the Church is the last institution left that's willing to proclaim what's right.

4. ARE YOU SURE THE CHURCH'S DOCTRINES AREN'T DIVINELY INSPIRED?

In my own conversion to Catholicism I faced serious challenges, including the fact that I was diagnosed with a Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood clot in a major vein) which was caused by a genetic clotting disorder that's exacerbated by pregnancy. My doctors told me I absolutely had to use contraception. It threw me into a crisis where I had to discern how serious I was about this religion, and how much I was really willing to risk to follow it.

Thanks to some wise advice, I realized that the situation was really quite simple: Is this Church guided by God in its teachings or not? If it's not, then there's no reason to listen to anything it says; if it is, then to say that I knew better than the Church was to say that I knew better than God.

When I looked at the unfathomable body of wisdom contained in this organization, considered that it has stood strong while empire after empire has fallen away around it, and saw that it has been unwavering in its core doctrines despite the imperfections of its hierarchy, I simply didn't think that humans could pull this off on their own. Then, when I began to transform my life according to these teachings, I was completely convinced. Following the "rules" of the Church brought an explosion of grace and peace and love into my life, and into my family's lives as well. I became convinced that these teachings are not human-made, but come from Someone who knows us better than we know ourselves.

5. ARE YOU SURE WE DON'T NEED THE CHURCH?

At the end of the NPR interview, Quindlen says, "I've never really gotten past that quote from Anne Frank in her diary, where she says that people are really good at heart." I too have always been touched by that quote, and I think it's worth putting some serious thought into. Because if it's true that people are ultimately good at heart...then that means that the staff who worked at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, lining up children in front of the gas chambers, overseeing Anne Frank and her family in slave labor, were good at heart too. How on earth, then, could normal, good people participate in something so evil?

The answer is chillingly simple: Through the power of human rationalization.

To look at the smiling faces of the employees in these pictures of an on-site staff retreat at Auschwitz is to understand that they had all rationalized their behavior. Nobody ever wakes up and says, "I'm going to do something evil today!", not even the staffers at Auschwitz. The only way evil ever works through us is when we convince ourselves that what we're doing is actually good. The most dangerous force in the world is the human capacity for rationalization.

I think that some folks reject the concept of the Church's divinely-inspired moral code because they don't see why it would even be necessary. Why would God even care to institute something like that? Why can't each person just get in touch with the spiritual realm and find what's good and true for him- or herself? The answer to that question can be found in the smiles on the Auschwitz's employees faces.

Though the individual members of the Catholic Church have made plenty of mistakes, sometimes gravely serious ones, its doctrines have always been a bulwark that protects human life. To a healthy American adult this may seem like an insignificant concept, since the only life that is devalued in our time and place is that of the severely disabled, the unborn, and others who literally do not have a voice. But that could change. The zeitgeist could shift, just as it did in Europe in the 1930s, and new groups of people may suddenly be seen as inconvenient and expendable. And one day the life that the Catholic Church stands up for may be your own.

By JENNIFER FULWILER  <  http://www.ncregister.com/blog/

SIX STEPS FOR REDUCING THE RISK OF PROSTATE CANCER

Prostate Cancer refers to a kind of cancer which develops in a gland in the male reproductive system called the Prostate. Most of such cancers develop slowly growing, though there are also prostate cancers that are aggressive.  Apart from the prostrate, the cancer cells sometimes spread to other parts of the body, especially the bones and lymph nodes. The cancer may be painful, with problems in urinating, sexual intercourse, or erectile dysfunction. There are also more symptoms that can develop during its later stages. Below are six steps that can help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer:

1. DRINK MORE COFFEE: Regular, decaf, half-caf, whatever -it's all good, say Harvard researchers. They found that men who drank six or more cups of regular or decaf coffee were 59 percent less likely to develop advanced prostate cancer than those who eschewed the brew. More research is needed to determine what's in java that might make it beneficial, says study author Kathryn Wilson, Ph.D.

2. FOR MARRIED MEN, HAVE LOTS OF SEX: A 2004 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association analyzed data on 29,342 men and found that guys who had 21 or more orgasms a month were about 30 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who racked up only four to seven a month. A possible explanation is . . . wait, who cares? Tell your wife it's doctor's orders.

3. EAT TOMATOES: For the 1,324th time, eat more cooked tomato products to reduce your risk of prostate cancer. This quirky link was first noticed in the 1990s by Harvard researcher Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., and subsequent studies have confirmed the power of edible red. Credit lycopene, a pigment in tomatoes that's more potent after they're cooked. Aim for two-plus servings a week.

4. REGULAR EXERCISE: Exercise reduces the risk of fatal forms of prostate cancer by 41 percent. What's more, among survivors of prostate cancer, those who exercised vigorously (playing tennis, running, swimming, or biking) for 5 hours a week had a 56 percent lower risk of death from the disease. "More activity is more protective," says lead researcher Stacey A. Kenfield, Sc.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health.

5. TOP OFF YOUR OIL: Fish don't have prostates -but if they did, we're betting they wouldn't get prostate cancer. In studies on lab animals, the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA in fish oil inhibited tumors. Plus, Harvard researchers found that men who ate fish three times a week reduced their risk of aggressive prostate cancer by 25 percent.

6. AVOID DOUGHNUTS: Men with the highest blood levels of trans fats have more than twice the prostate-cancer risk of men with the lowest levels. Trans-fatty acids increase inflammation and insulin resistance, both of which may play a role in prostate cancer. Avoid commercially baked doughnuts and cookies, as well as packaged baked goods containing hydrogenated oil.

< http://www.menshealth.com/health

REV. FR. EVEREST Y. HYUWA (1979 - 2013), R I P.

REV. FR. EVEREST Y. HYUWA

BORN: 15 Dec 1979.

FROM: Kurmin Mazuga, Kachia LGA., Kaduna State Nigeria.

ORDAINED:19 July 2008.

He was the  Diocesan Chancellor/Secretary of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria Nigeria before travelling to Rome for further studies in 2011.

He was a final-year student of Licentiate Degree in Philosophy in the Pontifical Urban University Rome, and would have graduated last June, but could not finish his exams due to sickness.

DIED IN ROME: Aug. 22, 2013.

Fr. Eva, may the Angels lead you into paradise. May the martyrs welcome you as you go, and may they lead you to that Holy City Jerusalem, where we shall never grow old. Adieu Bishop’s secretary. Adieu my Dogon Yaro. May your soul rest in peace.

THE PURPORTED NEW LAW ON CHILD MARRIAGE: WHAT REALLY TRANSPIRED?

There is a general misconception of the issue at hand, and this is blamable on the nature of our propaganda-media. The stock in trade of most of our media houses is fanning the embers of controversy in an already volatile nation through rumor mongering and the parade of half-baked controversial stories, most times without taking time to get the correct gist.

From a televised session of the Senate's sitting on this issue, and corroborated by live discussions on the same issue over time on the tube, what the Senate considered for determination under the review of Nigerian constitution was 'Renunciation of Citizenship Under the Nigerian Constitution' as contained under Section 29 (4b) which provides that any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age. A Senator argued that in Islam, a married woman is deemed to be of age no matter how young she is. Section 29 (4a) of the 1999 constitution already designates 18 years as the full age for any Nigerian who wishes to renounce his/her citizenship. Clause 4b further adds that for women, despite the 18 years already prescribed in Clause 4a, marriage removes the impediment of age to this regard. Thus, a married woman can be considered to be of full age. The senate therefore voted with the aim of removing the Clause 4b which automatically qualifies a married woman as being of age to denounce her citizenship if she wishes, no matter how young she is, and which was the point of reference of the senator who raised the issue. Unfortunately, those who voted in favour of the retention of the Clause 4b out-numbered their opponents.

So, there was no new law passed in favour of child marriage. Rather, the vote to remove a clause which automatically qualifies a married woman as legible to renounce her citizenship even if she is below 18 years, which then implies the possibility of having married women who are bellow 18 years, and which may provide a weak spot in the Law for a smart lawyer’s justification of child marriage in favour of a client was lost. An effort to stamp out the clause which implies the possibility of child marriage was lost by voting. This is quite different from the question of ‘underage marriage’ as widely reported in our propaganda media. The alleged endorsement of underage marriage by the Senate was a total misrepresentation of what the lawmakers considered or voted for under section 29 (4a & b) of the 1999 Constitution, and as presented for consideration by its committee on constitution review.

FILES DELETED FROM THE COMPUTER NEVER REALLY DISAPPEAR

Do you know that files deleted from the PC never disappear?

YOU know that file you deleted from your computer before your significant other had a chance to find it?

What if we told you that file never really disappeared?

That's right, just because you move a file to the trash doesn't mean it has actually been deleted.

And even once you empty the trash, the space inhabited by the file isn't actually emptied. When you hit "delete" that file doesn't disappear. It is simply marked as empty.

Michael from YouTube channel VSauce explains that "the file's home becomes available real estate but the file itself hasn't actually moved out. Only the pointers have gone away."

What are pointers, you ask? Pointers are a kind of data that point to places in your computer's memory where the file you are referencing can be found.

Deleting a file is the equivalent of turning to the contents page of a book and marking a chapter as empty, even though the actual chapter still exists.

Which is why you need to "overwrite" the file. Overwriting the file is the equivalent of turning it into Frankenstein's monster. You keep adding new data to it until it becomes unrecognisable.

However, overwriting doesn't always work. Some people have overwritten files more than 35 times and even then hackers and cyber criminals have been able to piece the information back together.

So the next option is shredding - physically taking apart your computer piece by piece and maybe putting it through some high powered magnet for good measure.

But much like shredded pieces of paper can actually be put back together, so too can shredded computer parts.

The video explains that cyber criminals have been able to find classified files from the US government in digital dumping grounds in Ghana.

So basically, nothing is permanently gone. And the best way to keep your data safe is to keep the hard drives of your old computers before ditching, donating or selling it, because you never know where your data can end up.

And then take to it with a hammer or some gasoline and a match.

< http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology

MOST REV. DR. GODFREY IGWEBUIKE ONAH

Congratulations Most Rev. Dr. Godfrey I. Onah.

Ordained Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka –Nigeria, on July 4, 2013.

Deede Uche’s World wishes you a successful and glorious episcopal ministry, and God’s graces and favors in your private endeavors as his Priest, Pastor and Professor Emeritus.

May God who has begun this work in you bring it to fulfillment, Amen.

‘LUMEN FIDEI,’ POPE FRANCIS’ FIRST ENCYCLICAL IS RELEASED

“This is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus… Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets.” - LUMEN FIDEI, n. 1.

LUMEN FIDEI, or the 'Light of Faith' is the tittle of Pope Francis' first encyclical. The document, which reflects on the 'Year of Faith' was started by Benedict XVI when he was still Pope. After his resignation, the document was passed on to Pope Francis. The Latin American Pope added some content to the text, and signed it on June 29th. 

The encyclical, which is divided into 60 points, has an introduction, four chapters and a conclusion. Encyclicals are open, Papal letters, addressed to the world. John Paul II published 14. Benedict XVI published 3. 

(Romereports.com July 05, 2013) 

The opening page of the Encyclical reads:

1.  The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (Jn 12:46). Saint Paul uses the same image: “God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts” (2 Cor 4:6). The pagan world, which hungered for light, had seen the growth of the cult of the sun god, Sol Invictus, invoked each day at sunrise. Yet though the sun was born anew each morning, it was clearly incapable of casting its light on all of human existence. The sun does not illumine all reality; its rays cannot penetrate to the shadow of death, the place where men’s eyes are closed to its light. “No one — Saint Justin Martyr writes — has ever been ready to die for his faith in the sun”.[1] Conscious of the immense horizon which their faith opened before them, Christians invoked Jesus as the true sun “whose rays bestow life”.[2] To Martha, weeping for the death of her brother Lazarus, Jesus said: “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40). Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets.

http://www.romereports.com/pdf/inglese.pdf

[1] Dialogus cum Tryphone Iudaeo, 121, 2: PG 6, 758.

[2] Clementof Alexandria, Protrepticus, IX: PG 8, 195.

NATURAL REMEDIES TO MENSTRUAL CRAMPS

Regular Exercise during Menstruation, Hot Water Therapy, Herbal Remedies, Vitamins and Minerals Supplement, Acupressure and Yoga.

Menstrual cramps are something that almost every woman has experienced. While some may only experience them in the form of mild discomfort, others may experience severe and often debilitating pain during their menstrual cycle. The good news is that there are several natural remedies which can be used to help relieve the pain and discomfort that is often associated with menstruation.

Regular Exercise during Menstruation: Maintaining regular exercise during menstruation has been shown to assist with easing cramps, reducing muscle tension and elevating one's mood. As little as 20 minutes of walking each day can help to lessen the severity of cramps and of other pain associated with menstruation.

Hot Water Therapy: A hot water bottle that is wrapped in a towel or cloth and placed on the abdomen can help to relieve abdominal cramps. One can soak in a hot bath that has a cup of sea salt and a cup of baking soda added to it. This remedy helps to relax the muscles, thereby easing the pain.

Vitamins and Minerals Supplement: Supplementation with vitamins and minerals is also beneficial during menstruation, as it will help to replenish nutrients and minerals which the body has lost. Magnesium, zinc, calcium, Vitamin B-complex and Vitamin E are all important vitamins and minerals which should be replenished during this time.

Herbal Remedies: Herbal remedies such as chamomile, fennel, ginger, cinnamon, basil, parsley and mint are used in different forms to ease cramps and other symptoms associated with menstruation. Mint, ginger and chamomile can be used to make soothing teas which can be taken a few times a day. 75ml of parsley can be blended with cucumber, beet and carrot juices. Not only will this help with pain relief, but it is also said to help regulate the menstrual cycle.

A piece of ginger can be crushed into a cup of boiling water and sweetened with a little honey. This can be taken three times a day after meals. Two tablespoons of basil leaves can be added to one pint of boiling water. Keep the infusion covered tightly and allow it to cool to room temperature. A half to one cup can be taken each hour to help ease cramps. Cinnamon can simply be sprinkled over any food or added to tea as desired.

Acupressure: Acupressure is also said to be a wonderful way to relieve menstrual cramps. An acupressure point referred to as Spleen 6 is often recommended by acupuncturists as a way to help relieve the pain as well. To locate this point, first place your fingers on the bony inner point of the ankle. From there, draw an imaginary line up the lower calf. You will find the point approximately four finger widths from the inner ankle bone. It is not located exactly on the shin bone, but next to it towards the back part of the calf muscle. Apply gradually increasing pressure to this point with your thumb or middle finger at a 90 degree angle to the skin. Keep applying the pressure for approximately three minutes. The pressure exerted on this point should in no way be painful or uncomfortable. Pregnant women should not apply any pressure to this point at any time.

Yoga: Yoga is also an excellent form of exercise during the menstrual cycle, as it helps to relieve the pain by helping the body to relax. This will help many of the other symptoms associated with menstruation as well.

< http://medxforum.com/

NIGERIANS TO PAY £3,000 CASH BOND HENCEFORTH TO ENTER THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Visitors from Nigeria and other “high risk” countries in Asia and Africa will be forced to pay a £3,000 cash bond before they can enter United Kingdom.

From November, a pilot scheme will target visitors India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana who will have to pay the UK government a form of cash guarantee or deposit to deter immigration abuse. They will forfeit the £3,000 if they overstay in Britain and fail to return to their home countries by the time their visa has expired.

The controversial move by the UK home secretary, Theresa May, to introduce the Australian-style system reflects her determination to show that the Conservatives are serious about cutting immigration in the UK.

Ms May said: “This is the next step in making sure our immigration system is more selective, bringing down net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands, while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain.”

She added: “In the long run we’re interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services.”

The Home Office is targeting countries which have high volumes of visitor visa applications and what it deems to be relatively high levels of fraud and abuse.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/06/23/

POPE FRANCIS' FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE

Usually, when someone begins a new job, the first 100 days in office are a time of transition. A time to define one's personality and work style. In the case of Pope Francis, the world didn't have to wait too long to get to know his style.  In just a few months, his open attitude has revitalized the Church. Here are a few key parts that so far, have defined his style. Here are a few key points that so far, have defined his first days in office.

CLOSENESS
A professor asked me, 'Why don't you go and live in the Apostolic Palace?' I replied: Because I have a psychiatric condition'! That's just my personality.

Pope Francis tries to be close to all the pilgrims who flock to Rome. During Mass and audiences, he spends a great deal of time with them, greeting them and blessing them. He says he doesn't want to live in the Papal apartments, so he can live among the people, with the Curia. Without a doubt his public audiences in St. Peter's Square are always packed.

FREEDOM
When I Confess someone... Well, right now I can't do that, because I can't go out to administer Confession...You can't really go out.  This is another problem.

The Pope loves to improvise. He loves to joke around and greet those who comes his way. Staying at Santa Marta allows him to schedule informal visits. He even jokes about sneaking out of the Vatican to administer Confession. 

CHURCH

And when we find apostles who want to build a rich Church and a Church without the gratuitousness of praise, the Church becomes old, the Church becomes an NGO, the Church becomes lifeless.

One of the new customs introduced by Pope Francis is his Mass at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. Every morning, the Pope gives a brief homily. He explains the day's Gospel and his catechesis sends a clear message about how the Pope thinks the Church should act and how Christians should behave. 

CONTINUITY
Thank you for the humbleness you've shown during your Pontificate. You are a  great example of kindness.

The Pope's speeches have been described as very powerful. The words he uses and his message are very direct. Despite his unique style, his Magisterium follows that of his predecessors. He often cites Benedict XVI, John Paul II and Paul VI. 

OUTSKIRTS

This can be dangerous. We close ourselves inside our parishes, with our friends, our associations, with the ones who share our own ideas... but you know what happens? When the Church is closed it weakens, it weakens. 

One of the most striking aspects Pope Francis showed during the start of his pontificate is his inclination for those in need. He shows a deep interest for the sick, the poor, children and the disadvantaged. He asks all Christians to actively engage in helping all those who live at the 'outskirts of society.'

REFORMS
I would love to have a poor Church. A Church for the poor! 

Before his election, cardinal Bergoglio often underlined the need for a more simplified Curia, that could assist dioceses around the world. It's an issue that was discussed among Cardinals before the Conclave. As Pope, he decided to appoint a commission of eight cardinals to reform the Curia and the way it governs the Church.  The commission will have its first official meeting in October. It will advise the Pope about how reforms can be put into practice, precisely to put in effect a new more effective model.  

The first 100 days of his pontificate have been intense. They have been a reflection of the impulse and strength he wants to govern the Church with. 

http://www.romereports.com