Roman Catholic Blog

Inhuman Indifference

"Indifference is not an emotion for human beings,"

"To turn the other way or to mind your own business can sometimes be more devastating than the events that occur."

- Crecenzio Cardinal Seppe, Archbishop of Naples (quoted above and pictured below)

Shocking story out of Italy, once heart of Christendom.

Shocking Indifference to Roma (Gypsy) Drowning

TORREGAVETA, Italy (July 21) - Italian newspapers, an archbishop and civil liberties campaigners expressed shock and revulsion on Monday after photographs were published of sunbathers apparently enjoying a day at the beach just meters from where the bodies of two drowned Roma (gypsy) girls were laid out on the sand.

See the full story at:

http://news.aol.com/article/shocking-indifference-to-roma-drowning/94412?icid=100214839x1206338144x1200292688

The two girls were reportedly named Violetta and Cristina, aged 12 and 13.

_________________

V. Eternal rest grant unto Violetta and Cristina, O Lord.
R. And may perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
R. Amen.

Is it Murder?

Words have such power. Beyond they're actual meaning, they can convey sense or attitude on a variety of topics, either positive or negative, by their individual choice.

My eyebrow arched as I saw a tv ad for the latest edition of the National Geographic Magazine. The article that drew my ire was entitled:

Who Murdered the Virunga Gorillas?

(See: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/07/virunga/jenkins-text.html)

Murder Gorillas? In the logical world in which I was raised, this title is itself an oxymoron. Murder is defined as the unlawful taking of a human life. I looked it up on Merriam Webster's and sure enough:

Main Entry:

¹mur·der

Pronunciation:

\ˈmər-dər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

partly from Middle English murther, from Old English morthor; partly from Middle English murdre, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English morthor; akin to Old High German mord murder, Latin mort-, mors death, mori to die, mortuus dead, Greek brotos mortal

Date:

before 12th century

1: the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought2 a: something very difficult or dangerous <the traffic was murder> b: something outrageous or blameworthy <getting away with murder>

Well I thought, perhaps they changed the definition of "person?" "No" there too, it reads:

per·son

Pronunciation:

\ˈpər-s^ən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French persone, from Latin persona actor's mask, character in a play, person, probably from Etruscan phersu mask, from Greek prosōpa, plural of prosōpon face, mask — more at prosopopoeia

Date:

13th century

1: human, individual —sometimes used in combination especially by those who prefer to avoid man in compounds applicable to both sexes <chairperson><spokesperson>2: a character or part in or as if in a play : guise3 a: one of the three modes of being in the Trinitarian Godhead as understood by Christians b: the unitary personality of Christ that unites the divine and human natures4 aarchaic : bodily appearance b: the body of a human being; also : the body and clothing <unlawful search of the person>5: the personality of a human being : self6: one (as a human being, a partnership, or a corporation) that is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties7: reference of a segment of discourse to the speaker, to one spoken to, or to one spoken of as indicated by means of certain pronouns or in many languages by verb inflection.

National Geographic is far from the benign magazine of our youth. Regrettably, many, if not most, do not understand the seriously flawed philosophical argument it is attempting to covertly make when it speaks of the "murder of gorillas."

Divine Copyright?

I read with great pleasure at the Rorate Coeli blog that the Tridentine Redemptorists have come back to Rome.

See: http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/

My late mother, having had wonderful experiences of Redemptorist missions at her local parish as a girl, was particularly devoted to St. Gerard Majella, CSSR.

If you go to to the formerly termed "Transalpine Redemptorist" website, see:

http://papastronsay.blogspot.com/2008/07/no-more-servants-but-sons-gal-iv7.html

You will read the following:

"Our new name has been worked out in consultation with the Holy See but, as with all things of this nature, we can only say that the name will be absolutely finalised when the community's statutes are approved. This is normal proceedure.

Our new name, the name which we will use exclusively
from 2 August will be:

SONS OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER
Filii Sanctissimi Redemptoris

The siglum will be the Latin initials for 'Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer':

F. SS. R."

Until you read farther down:

For those who did not know: The reason we need to change our name is that the Redemptorist Fathers claim exclusive rights to the title: "Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer;" the initials or siglum, "C.SS.R." and the nickname "Redemptorist". ( Our nickname will be chosen later.)

Wow. I didn't realize that religious orders owned, in a legal sense, their orders' names.

Nonetheless - This is a great and good thing, that these men have returned to the fold of Rome, we need them!

St. Gerard Majella - Pray for us.

The Face of Evil.

Here my confreres is the face of evil. He may look like a middle-aged Biology Professor from the University of Minnesota at Morris, but oh no - this guy is the real thing, spawn of Satan. It's a shame it's not legal for us to wrestle him to the ground, like Gregory Peck did to Damien in the Omen movie, to see if he's got the tattoo!

On his blog, called Pharyngula, he writes the following:

"So, what to do. I have an idea. Can anyone out there score me some consecrated communion wafers? ... I'll show you sacrilege, gladly, and with much fanfare. ..but will instead treat it with profound disrespect and heinous cracker abuse, all photographed and presented here on the web. I shall do so joyfully and with laughter in my heart."

You can read his full posting at:

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/07/its_a_goddamned_cracker.php

While we all appreciate the freedom to say what we will as Americans, individuals like Professor Myers could make one wish for the days of the Auto de Fe.

Professor Myers' e-mail address is: myersp@morris.umn.edu

If you are so inclined, e-mail him your thoughts. Perhaps more important would be to e-mail Professor Myers boss, Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson of the University of Minnesota at Morris, and ask her how a cretin like Professor Myers is let near young adults.

Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson's e-mail address is: jrjohnso@morris.umn.edu

DENIAL JUST AIN'T A RIVER IN EGYPT!

World Youth Day Organizer Bishop Anthony Fisher (pictured above) reportedly tells the parents of a girl who committed suicide after she and her sister were serially abused by a Catholic priest that they are:

"Dwelling Crankily on Old Wounds."

My G*d. Anti-catholic masonic writers at the turn of the century would have been hard-pressed to invent such vitriol and today it is really being said by prelates in Holy Mother Church.

You can read the whole story at:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/16/2305856.htm

Thy Brother's Blood Crieth

And he said to him: What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth to me from the earth.

Genesis 4:10

Dixitque ad eum quid fecisti vox sanguinis fratris tui clamat ad me de terra

Genesis 4:10

___________________________

Hat tip to "gates of Vienna" Blog.

See:(http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/)

Which in turn got the original story from: http://www.sonsofapesandpigs.org/

Coptic Protest Tomorrow in Front of the White House

by Baron Bodissey

American Egyptian Coptic Christians to organize a peaceful demonstration, on July 16, 2008, in front of the White House, to protest violent attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt

Written by Coptic organizations in the United States

Coptic Organizations in America along with activists from Egypt, the Middle East, Europe and the United states, will conduct a peaceful demonstration in front of the White House on Wednesday July 16, 2008, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm.

The purpose is to convey, to world’s opinion and international human rights organizations, the systematic and continuous persecution, murders, discrimination, marginalization, and the organized (by the security police, and muslim organizations) kidnapping of Coptic girls inflicted on Coptic Christians of Egypt by the Egyptian government and Muslim “extremists,” which in many cases represent the whole “moderate” population of a village or a town, following recent killings and attacks on Christian homes, businesses and institutions.

We will expose the persecution of the Coptic Christians of Egypt, including unprovoked attacks against Coptic families, churches, monasteries, homes and businesses. During the past few weeks, news agencies worldwide reported attacks against the Copts in towns and cities of Zaitoun, Alexandria, Abu Fana, Dafash, El Menia, Luxor, and Fayoum. The situation became so bad to the extent that attempts were made to force Coptic monks to denounce their faith under torture and death threats.

Whatever our doctrinal differences with our Coptic brothers, we should stand in solidarity against their persecution by Muslims in Egypt.

INCONGRUOUS

Does anybody else notice the incongruity in the picture below?

I know that in the PC world we live in the Pope has to go along with this stuff, but...

Your thoughts?

Catholics Come Home

A friend e-mailed me a link to CatholicsComeHome.org, specifically pointing me to TV ads the organization has produced and is airing in various markets.

According to my friend, they have been airing in the Phoenix area and have reportedly drawn 6,000 fallen away Catholics back to the Church.  I can see why: they are very powerful, moving ads. You can watch them here, here and here.

I couldn't help but notice the power of these ads derives in large part from the traditional imagery employed. You see children kneeling at the Communion rail, the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, stained glass and beautiful altars -- not folk Masses, ugly, modernistic churches or nuns in polyester pantsuits. The producers use imagery that evokes the sacred, the mystical, the eternal and the ancient, the majesty of the Catholic Church, demonstrating a clear understanding what really draws people to Catholicism.

If you want to donate to CatholicsComeHome.org's worthy mission, click here.

Learn from the Filipinos!

Pictured above is Archbishop Jesus Armamento Dosado of the Archdiocese of Ozamis in the Phillipines.

A true Defender of the Faith.

Read below.

Filipino archbishop bars pro-abort pols from Communion

Manila, Jul. 14, 2008 (CWNews.com) - In a debate reminiscent of recent disputes among American bishops, Church leaders in the Philippines have taken up the question of whether pro-abortion politicians should be barred from the Eucharist-- with one archbishop answering with an emphatic Yes.

Archbishop Jesus Armamento Dosado of Ozamis has announced that politicians who support legal abortion will not be allowed to receive Communion.

"The practice of indiscriminately presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion merely as a consequence of being present at Mass is an abuse that must be corrected," wrote Archbishop Dosado in a pastoral letter released on July 13. He said that Catholic politicians who vote or campaign for legal abortion should be denied Holy Communion "until they bring to an end the objective situation of sin."

"This decision, properly speaking, is not a sanction or a penalty," the archbishop said. "Nor is the minister of the Holy Communion passing judgment on the person’s subjective guilt, but rather is reacting to the person’s public unworthiness to receive Holy Communion due to an objective situation of sin."

Another ranking Filipino prelate, Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Linguyen-Dagupan, said that the ban on Communion for pro-abortion politicians-- which now covers only the Ozamis archdiocese-- could be extended throughout the country. The issue could be brought before the bishops' conference for consideration of a nationwide policy if conditions warrant, Archbishop Cruz told a broadcast audience on Radio Veritas. "It has not yet reached that level," he said.

The speaker of the Filipino parliament, Prospero Nograles, disagreed with Archbishop Dosado's pastoral letter. While saying that he personally opposes abortion, Nograles said that Church leaders should "respect separation of church and state."

But Archbishop Cruz supported his fellow prelate, saying that denial of the Eucharist is an appropriate ecclesiastical sanction. He told Radio Veritas, the bishops' broadcast outlet: "If a priest or bishop does not punish a public sinner, it is the priest or bishop who is wrong."

Even more incredible is the fact that this Archbishop,

this faithful Archbishop,

is a Vincentian!?

Hic Est ...

I know this is the ultimate rehash as:

1.) CWN was reprinting a story from the

2.) "New Liturgical Movement" blog that in turn was translating

3.)An Italian story from Panorama magazine.

Nonetheless, given the chatter on Maximus’ post about Eucharistic prayer IV, I think it interesting that the Pope is considering the words of consecration being said in Latin regardless of which prayer is used.

Barring his restoration of the Roman Canon as the sole Eucharistic prayer

which I know won’t happen, I think this would be GREAT!

Pope weighing changes in Novus Ordo?

Rome – 04JUL08

(CWNews.com)

Pope Benedict XVI is considering changes in the Mass, according to an Italian publication.

The weekly Panorama reports that the Holy Father has asked the Congregation for Divine Worship to study the possibility of changes that would include using Latin in the Eucharistic Prayer and moving the Sign of Peace to the Offertory.

See (http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2008/07/changes-in-liturgy-of.html)

The New Liturgical Movement web site, which brought the Italian report to the attention of English-speaking readers, cautioned that the Panorama report should be treated with "great caution." The Panorama story itself suggests only that the Pope has asked for a study of the proposals-- not that he is prepared to implement the changes.

According to the Italian weekly, the Pope is weighing the use of Latin for the formula of Consecration at Mass. He may also be leaning toward the use of Latin in other sacraments.

Pope Benedict has often expressed a desire to enrich the post-conciliar liturgy by incorporating some aspects of older liturgical practices. The proposed changes could be seen as part of that process. CWN has not been able to confirm the accuracy of the Panorama report.

Wither the Provinces?

Archbishop Burke To Head Apostolic Signatura, Church's Highest Court

The following is the text of Archbishop Raymond L. Burke's statement regarding his appointment as prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

"Today, at noon in Rome (5 a.m. CDT), it was announced that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has named me prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, effective immediately. With the announcement, I ceased to be the Archbishop of St. Louis."

You can read the full text of Archbishop, soon to be Cardinal, Burke’s statement at:

http://archstl.org/

While this high honor undoubtedly shows the respect the Holy Father has for Archbishop Burke, and he will obviously be put to good use in the "Augean Stables" that are the Roman Curia, what about us in the sticks? Has there been any greater champion for orthodoxy in the American Hierarchy? Can’t a "few good men" be left here Stateside to battle their neo-modernist brethren of the purple?

Your Thoughts?

Why Not Eucharistic Prayer IV?

For many years, I have wondered why Eucharistic Prayer IV is so rarely used?

It beautifully expresses God's love for us, and His determination throughout history to bring us to salvation. I think it better conveys a sense of salvific history than the other Eucharistic prayers.

Yet, I can't recall ever hearing it used in a Mass (and I'm 44 years old).

I'm interested in our readers' opinion as to why that might be. According to this Zenit FAQ, Eucharistic Prayer IV may be used during Ordinary Time -- but it would be extraordinary if it were, at least in my Diocese. I have wondered if it is considered by too many priests to be overly "patriarchial" due to the frequent appearance of words like "men" and "man."

Thoughts?

Every Knee Should Bow

That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:

Philippians 2:10

Ut in nomine Iesu omne genu flectat caelestium et terrestrium et infernorum

Philippians 2:10

This has always been a pet peeve of mine. Twenty years ago while a seminarian at St, John’s in Camarillo I was informed by the then dean of Students that my kneeling during the consecration of the mass was a "sign of disunity." Today that priest is an Auxiliary Bishop.

Later, during a liturgy class I asked the priest instructor why every knee would bend at Jesus" name, but not for his real presence? I was treated to a lecture on our status as "People of the Resurrection" who do not servilely bow. When I quipped that he obviously had knowledge that St. Paul did not it garnered me a meeting with the Rector. He told me that I was being disruptive and questioned my "true level" of spiritual growth if I was so concerned with outward and antiquated signs of pre-conciliar piety. Today that priest is an Archbishop!

At least the Pope can call the shots at his own mass.

Vatican: Receiving Eucharist kneeling will be norm at papal liturgies

By Carol Glatz, CNS

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Receiving the Eucharist on the tongue while kneeling before the pope will become the norm at papal liturgies, said the Vatican's liturgist.

While current norms allow the faithful to receive the Eucharist in the hand while standing, Pope Benedict XVI has indicated a preference for the more traditional practice, said Msgr. Guido Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies.

Kneeling and receiving Communion on the tongue highlights "the truth of the real presence (of Christ) in the Eucharist, helps the devotion of the faithful and introduces the sense of mystery more easily," he said in a June 26 interview with the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.

You can read the full story at: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0803381.htm

Learn From The Poles!

Polish health minister excommunicated for abortion involvement?

Warsaw, Jun. 24, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Pro-life activists in Poland have called for the excommunication of the country’s health minister, Ewa Kopacz, who was involved in arranging an abortion for a 14-year-old girl.

Kopacz, who located a hospital willing to perform the abortion in the highly publicized case, has defended her action, saying: “As a government minister, I did my job.” She had located a willing hospital after institutions in the girl’s hometown, Lublin, and the capital city, Warsaw, had refused to perform the abortion.

“I don’t feel guilty,” Kopacz said. “Yesterday I was at church, so I have no reason to feel guilty.”

Others disagree. The Catholic magazine Fronda asked Bishop Zygmunt Zimowski of Radom to pronounce the excommunication of the health minister. And Archbishop Tadeusz Goclowski of Gdansk, where the abortion was eventually performed, said that everyone directly involved in the operation was “already excommunicated,” since the Code of Canon Law explicitly stipulates excommunication as the penalty for procuring an abortion. The canonical penalty is incurred latae sententiae-- that is, automatically, without the need for any formal announcement.

Father Piotr Kienewicz, a moral theologian at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, commented that even if the government supported abortion in this case, Kopacz could have resigned rather than locating a hospital to perform the operation. Because the health minister chose to aid in the abortion, he questioned whether her adherence to the Catholic faith is sincere. Moreover, because of the highly public nature of her action, Father Kienewicz said that Kopacz could not readily be absolved of her guilty. “Because her action was of a public nature, I do not believe in this case, confession and penance suffice,” he said.

I set my face like a flint

For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. - Isaiah 50:7

Dominus Deus auxiliator meus, ideo non sum confusus; ideo posui faciem meam ut petram durissimam, et scio quoniam non confundar. - Isaias 50:7

____________________________________________________________

Sanity from Minnesota, my the times they are a changing!

God Bless Archbishop Nienstedt

"Twin Cities Catholic Archbishop Nixes Gay Pride Service."

"The new Catholic archbishop for the Twin Cities has told a parish that it can no longer hold prayer services celebrating the homosexual lifestyle and that parishioners ought to pray for peace instead if they want to remain in conformity with Catholic teaching.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, led by its new administrator, Archbishop John Nienstedt, informed parish staff members of St. Joan of Arc church that their annual homosexual pride prayer service planned for Wednesday - an event that has been held for several years in conjunction with the annual Twin Cities Pride Celebration - must come to a permanent end."

See the full article at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08062411.html

The lefties are buzzing mad about this one, and that’s great. Even "le gran dame" Andrew Sullivan laments.

See: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/06/you-cant-even-p.html

(If you ever want to see the prima facie proof of the maxim "When passion enters reason flies" read Andrew Sullivan, but of course he thinks Obama is a conservative candidate and is happy that gas is at $4 a gallon.)

Obama's "NARAL Catholics"

"NARAL Catholic" strikes me -- and, I imagine, our readers -- as a terrible oxymoron. Yet that is the term Wall Street Journal columnist William McGgurn uses to describe the members of Barack Obama's "National Catholic Advisory Council." Read McGurn's column to understand why he uses the term:

You are the Democratic candidate for president. You want to reach out to Catholics. So what do you do when the majority of the elected officials on your National Catholic Advisory Council have the seal of approval from NARAL Pro-Choice America?

That's the position Barack Obama now finds himself in. A few months ago, his Catholic advisory council was announced with great enthusiasm, and Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) was listed as a national co-chair. His appearance at the top of the council sent a clear message: This campaign is determined to recover some of the lost Democratic sheep who have gravitated to the GOP over abortion.

This council does indeed include some Catholics whose pro-life credentials are impeccable, including Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar. But let us also stipulate the obvious: Of the 21 senators, congressmen and governors listed on the council's National Leadership Committee, 17 have a 90%-100% NARAL approval rating. Even Mr. Casey now enjoys a 65% NARAL approval rating.

Vero Possumus.

(see www.betterinlatin.com)

Because I love all things Latin….

Obama campaign drops seal on podium

Jun 23, 2008 by Bill Sammon, The Examiner

WASHINGTON- After days of media mockery, Barack Obama has decided to stop using a presidential-looking seal that his campaign designed and affixed to his podium on Friday.

Journalists said the seal, which features an eagle clutching arrows and an olive branch, smacks of arrogance. John McCain's camp had a field day, calling the seal "laughable, ridiculous, preposterous and revealing - all at the same time."

The seal was conspicuously missing from Obama's lectern when he spoke to a group of women in Albuquerque on Monday. Not surprising, given how much grief Obama took from a normally laudatory press corps after unveiling the seal at an appearance in Chicago on Friday.

"What a bizarre and dumb idea," railed NBC political director Chuck Todd. "It really feeds the arrogance narrative."

The oversized blue seal was emblazoned with the Latin phrase "Vero Possumus," which roughly translates into "yes, we can."

 

It also featured a plug for the candidate's website. "The Audacity of Hype," cracked ABC's Jake Tapper. "No word on whether they played a remix of 'Hail to the Chief' as Obama walked in."

Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times observed that Obama "has decided not to wait for any of the formalities like a presidential election, an inauguration or even a nomination, which he still hasn't actually officially won yet."

Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic magazine was the first to note that Obama would deep-six the seal. "I'm told that Obama recognizes that it was a silly mistake," Ambinder said. "Does the press think Obama is arrogant? Yes."

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said the episode reinforces this media perception of Obama. "The press corps adopts a subtext for each candidate," Sabato told The Examiner. "Daddy Bush was 'a nice guy but out of touch.' Bill Clinton was 'smart but randy.' Bob Dole was 'heroic but too old.' Gore was 'brilliant but a fibber and a bore.' Dubya was 'pleasant but dumb.'" He added: "Obama's subtext is rapidly becoming 'charismatic but arrogant.'"

The Obama campaign declined to comment.

Independent & Catholic - Oxymoron?

A few posts below I mused about the dangers associated with a predominantly Jesuit concept that their universities are both "Catholic and Independent." A direct quote from that post is:

"Any time you see the words "independent" and "Roman Catholic tradition" you are reading Jebbie speak for "we can do what the H*ll we want."

I had a reply from someone associated with a Catholic College that was founded by Benedictines, but is now run by an independent Board of Directors. It's web page spouts about its "Benedictine tradition," but its campus minister is an SVD priest and the only cleric on the web page for it's School of Theology is a Jesuit.

Here is my idea of what control should be exercised at a Catholic University:

"Struggle for control at German Catholic university ^.

Eichstatt, Jun. 20, 2008 (CWNews.com) - A struggle for control of A German Catholic university has escalated, with the local bishop-- who earlier rejected the faculty's choice as president of the institution-- replacing the top administrator.

In May, Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke of Eichstatt refused to approve the appointment of Ulrich Hemel, a twice-divorced scholar, as president of the University of Eichstatt. Now the bishop has asked for an outside review of spending by the school's top administrator, Gottfried von der Heydte. The bishop has appointed two impartial scholars to investigate the administration."

Only when we have Catholic institutions that must answer to the Church, either through her Bishops, or the superiors of Religious orders, will we be in a position to begin to clean the muck & mire of neo-modernism that infests many universities labelled as Catholic.

Happy About Creating Dissent?

Our friends at the National Catholic Reporter picked up this story from the Catholic News Service. I actually smiled as I read it. Why? you may ask.

This story is an invention, trying to take Cardinal Ouellet's comments (he's pictured above) out of context and make it appear that he is disagreeing with the Holy Father.

When the neo-modernists at the National Catholic Reporter have to INVENT dissent, I'm gladdened. It was not that long ago that they and their ilk had a ready supply of dissenters, none fabricated like this story.

"Phantasmagorical Cocktail of Inventions"

I was pleased to read that the Vatican has forbidden the makers of the latest Dan Brown thriller, Angels & Demons, to be filmed in any church in Rome, including Santa Maria del Popola pictured above.

Part of the article reads:

Voix Diabolique

It has been reported that at the end of his life, Pope Pius XII had premonitions of an impending great crisis that would be faced by Holy Mother Church. In those moments he would murmur to himself

"THERE IS THE STENCH OF SULFUR IN THE AIR!"

Regrettably, even before I read an article or hear an interview on tv, when I see the letters SJ after a name, I think a slight whiff of sulfur is not far behind.

Anything in the name of "Health."

The late Malachi Martin once said to me, "In the USA you can get away with anything if you do it in the name of health." I believe we were discussing the unbelievably rapid, and shockingly unopposed, growth in classes termed "sex education" in public primary and secondary schools. These classes having little to do with "health," and all to do with social engineering and the debasing of our society. (Contrariwise, I'm not talking about reverting to total ignorance ala babies are delivered by storks)

This conversation came to mind when I read the following:

"Highway patrol officers visited El Camino High School in Oceanside, Calif., last month and told students several of their classmates had been killed in car wrecks. But it was all a hoax designed to dramatize the dangers of drinking and driving."

You can read the full article at:

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/teachers-defend-dwi-shock-tactics/20080612163009990001

Administrators plainly admit their goal was to "shock" and "traumatize" their students as to the dangers of drinking.

Your thoughts?

Baltimore Archbishop Puts Restrictions On Legion of Christ Activities

This is interesting (H/T to Catholic World News).  Archbishop Edmund O'Brien of Baltimore has asked the Legionaries of Christ for a full, detailed report of all their activities within the Archdiocese of Baltimore -- and has placed limits on Legion vocational recruitment activity within his jurisdiction.

Archbishop O'Brien wants the Legion to appoint a liaison priest to furnish him with the names, locations, meeting and activity schedules, membership of all Legion and Regnum Christi groups.

Also, O'Brien asks local Legionary/Regnum Christi members:

Mugabe a "Devout" Catholic?

Christopher Hitchens has a great piece at Slate about Robert Mugabe, current thug/ruler/dictator of Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia. You can read the full piece at:

http://www.slate.com/id/2193213/?from=rss

Here's the money quote:

Voice of the Faithful is "Mainstream Catholic"?

That's how a reporter described the Voice of the Faithful today in my hometown paper, the Orange County Register.

The article is about Diocese of Orange Bishop Tod Brown's request that retired Australian Bishop Geoffrey Robinson not come to Orange County to promote his book "Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church."

Robinson is speaking to the Orange County chapter of Voice of the Fathful, which OC Register reporter Vik Jolly described as "a group of mainstream Catholics working for change in the church structure and policy..."

Can A Catholic Be For Obama?

This is an issue that is certain to come up repeatedly during this presidential campaign, since presumptive Democratic nominee will surely pull at the voting heart-strings of many Catholics -- even for he is on the extreme of the pro-choice fringe.

Catholic and National Review Online Editor Kathryn Jean Lopez wrote a thoughtful column on this very subject, which you can read here. She offers some very compelling arguments that the answer to the headline question is "No."

Be Afraid, Very Afraid.....

Every so often I wander over to the National Catholic Reporter web page to see what they're up to. Now before you think I've "jumped ship," I'd remind you of Emperor Napoleon"s first rule of war - KNOW THE ENEMY.

One of their crack neo-bolshevik reporters, John Allen, has been covering the annual meeting of the Catholic Theological Society of America, or CTSA, sending out missives on a daily basis. On June 6 he reported out on a dual presentation by Jesuit Fr. Allen Figureoa Deck, (PICTURED ABOVE) Executive Director of the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity at the USCCB, and Maria Teresa Davila, of Andover Newton Theological School.

Hand Slap?

Controversial Chicago priest to return as pastor

Chicago, Jun. 9, 2008 (CWNews.com) - A Chicago priest who was directed by Cardinal Francis George to take a leave of absence after mocking Senator Hillary Clinton will return to active minister after a hiatus of less than 2 weeks.

The announcement that Father Michael Pfleger will resume his normal duties as pastor of St. Sabrina's parish was greeted with hearty applause at the inner-city Chicago. An associate said that the controversial priest would have "no restrictions" placed on his ministry.

Father Pfleger, an ardent supporter of the Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, gained national notoriety with an emotional sermon that he preached at the Trinity United Church of Christ, in which he ridiculed Senator Clinton for her opposition to an African-American candidate. Trinity United Church was Obama's own parish until the presidential candidate resigned his membership to distance himself from the furor roused by the church's longtime pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Priest & President of the U.N.?

Rev. Miguel d’Escoto-Brockmann, born in Los Angeles on February 5, 1933, is a Nicaraguan diplomat, politician, liberation theologian and Maryknoll Catholic priest.

He was just elected President of the United Nations General Assembly; his one year term at that post will begin in September 2008. He will preside over the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Quotes from Brockmann:

"They elected a priest. And I hope no one is offended if I say that love is what is most needed in this world. And that selfishness is what has gotten us into the terrible quagmire in which the world is sinking, almost irreversibly, unless something big happens. This may sound like a sermon. Well, OK."

Ronald Reagan is “the butcher of my (Nicaraguan) people"

"Because of Reagan and his spiritual heir George W. Bush, the world today is far less safe and secure than it has ever been."

Perhaps Obama has found his new pastor?

O tempora, O mores!

Should "Obamacon" Doug Kmiec have Been Denied Holy Communion?

Here's an interesting item from E. J. Dionne's WaPo column yesterday:

Word spread like wildfire in Catholic circles: Douglas Kmiec, a staunch Republican, firm foe of abortion and veteran of the Reagan Justice Department, had been denied Communion.

His sin? Kmiec, a Catholic who can cite papal pronouncements with the facility of a theological scholar, shocked old friends and adversaries alike earlier this year by endorsing Barack Obama for president. For at least one priest, Kmiec's support for a pro-choice politician made him a willing participant in a grave moral evil.

Kmiec was denied Communion in April at a Mass for a group of Catholic business people he later addressed at dinner. The episode has not received wide attention outside the Catholic world, but it is the opening shot in an argument that could have a large impact on this year's presidential campaign: Is it legitimate for bishops and priests to deny Communion to those supporting candidates who favor abortion rights?

You can read the rest of the column here, and please do so.

I admit to being conflicted here.  I think one can make a plausible argument -- in the context of the particular Mass mentioned in the column -- that the priest was obliged to deny Holy Eucharist to a high profile conservative Catholic who is supporting an pro-choice extremist for President.

But I am curious what our readers think about the matter.