The Lady in the Pew

Celebrating 50 million dead babies. Celebrating???

2012-01-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

Jill Stanek and many pro-life bloggers are driving NARAL and other pro-abortion people crazy by asking them a simple question: "What do you mean by `choice'?" The action was prompted last year as NARAL instituted its "Blog for Choice" campaign last year on the anniversary of the tragedy known as Roe vs. Wade.

The thing is, NARAL—the "National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League" (I think I've got the words to the acronym right, but I really don't care...they never use them) has answered the question.

The "choice" is abortion. Period.

On their website, under the heading "What is Choice?" there are four "answers." Topping the list is, of course, Abortion. In fourth place—obviously in the cellar as far as NARAL is concerned—is "Healthy" Pregnancies.

You don't need to be a rocket science to see where this group's priorities are.

Even "pregnancy" isn't really a choice unless it's a "healthy" one. Read: if you're not a perfect baby, kid, adios and see ya in the dumpster.

I couldn't think of anything uglier than facilitating the gruesome death of a baby until I came across something that makes me shiver even as I write this:

Partying down on millions of dead babies' bodies.

There's a group called the "D.C. Abortion Fund" and the headline on its site says it all:

ROE-D TO PERDITION

Nope. I'm not making this up. Evidently the group doesn't understand the meaning of the word "perdition" or maybe, what the hell (pun intended) they do and they embrace it. In any case, the text goes on to breathlessly outline the parties, celebrations, and other festivities planned for the anniversary.

Get ready to boogie down with DCAF this month! We have emerged mostly unscathed from our loving families and are ready to Roe-ll! The 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision is January 22, and we are so grateful for the dedicated activists, legislators, and donors who continue to make abortion rights a reality here and around the world...Here is your pro-choice social calendar for this week and next

Following this giddy introduction is a list of happy hours, rallies, dinners, more happy hours, parties, still more happy hours...all conveniently listing times, ticket information, and locations. Most of them are in bars. At least one is in an elegant restaurant. Topping the host list are NARAL and NOW.

My question isn't "what do you mean by `choice'" because I already know what they mean by "choice."

My question is simple: what sort of mind-set deems it necessary—no, desirable—to celebrate death?

Obama accelerates war on humanity

2012-01-20T19:37:00.000-08:00

However, he's given us all a year before forcing us (or trying to force us) into sin.

Ron Wine, father of Colleen Hammond, R.I.P.

2012-01-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Mr. Ron Wine, who died on January 17, and for the comfort of his family. Among Mr. Wine's many accomplishments are his four children, including the wonderful Colleen Hammond.

Thank you.

January 23: A Day of Prayer and Penance for Life

2012-01-11T18:08:00.000-08:00

No need to wait, though...let's start praying and doing penance now!

In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass "For Peace and Justice" (no. 22 of the "Masses for Various Needs") should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.

(General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373)

"Ten Years Later?" Uh...I don't think so

2012-01-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

True, ten years ago, The Boston Globe broke a story covering years of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests and employees of the Archdiocese of Boston.

However, this "ten years" thing is, while not, I'm sure, deliberate? It's still a ruse. Male adolescents, and children, were sexually abused by male priests and other diocese employees for decades.

So can we dispense with the "10 Year" crap, unless we want to congratulate Michael Paulson and his Globe team for breaking the story? (Which I do, by the way.)

Thank you. Sheesh. It's headlines like this that make me want to warm up to groups I normally look askance at...like SNAP and -- what was their name? Oh yes, "Voice of the People."

Face it folks. "Ten Years Later," the Catholic Church's perverts—may God have mercy on them—got caught. As did their enablers. Say it to yourselves. I promise you, you'll feel better. Or, maybe not better, but you can at least congratulate yourselves on being honest.

But what really happened "Ten Years" ago?

Well, for one thing, the idiots who let this perversity go on without even considering the ramifications walked right into the devil's snare...giving the aforementioned groups like "Voice of the Faithful" and other, even more perverse groups like "Dignity" the opportunity they'd been salivating for: "changing" the Church.

[insert harp-like memorable music here]

I can still hear it now:

"Oh, gosh, if only priests were allowed to marry." (Not, of course, even giving a nod to the fact that the VAST majority of abusers were men attracted to young boys.)

"My dear, if only women were allowed to become priests!" (Without, of course, even doffing their hats to the Church's dictum that such a thing was impossible.)

"I'm leaving the Church, dammit!" (This, of course, from—not all, but very, very many—folks who hadn't darkened a Catholic church door in years.)

And even today:

"Hey, let the lay folks run the Mass!"

"Hey, it's Gay Pride Week—let's have a Mass to celebrate!"

"Hey, I know...let's invite dissident priest Father Gumdrop to give us a good pep talk!"

"Hey, didja hear? Sister Maggie Sugarplum was just ordained!!!"

The list goes on, but you get my point. Or if you don't, think about it.

And then there were the "cures" [gag]

Foremost among them? Why "Talking About Touching" of course! An abominable "program" started around 2004 or so, that exposed little kids—I'm talking about six-year-olds here—to "preventative" lessons which pretty much taught little kids to beware of their own family members. Google it.

Let's face it, folks. "Ten Years Later" is a stupid phrase to acknowledge the fact that Church leadership—the Church founded by my Best Friend Jesus Christ—let jerks come in and try to destroy Her.

The Good News? They didn't.

The bad news? They're still trying.

And they've been given carte blanche, practically because for years—not a decade, but years—the folks in charge let things slide.

Cardinal O'Malley's letter to the Archdiocese of Boston made it very clear that, despite the millions of dollars given over to sexual abuse victims, to new "programs," etc., etc., the letter was not a congratulatory pose.

Good. Because we don't need a pulled-out shoulder caused from patting ourselves on the back to hurt us even further.

May God continue to bless you.

Free Epiphany Card!

2011-12-30T17:45:00.000-08:00

Didn't get those Christmas Cards out this year? Want to still give a greeting that celebrates the birth of our Savior? Email me -- use the "email Kelly" link -- and get a PDF file of a card celebrating the Epiphany of Our Lord. Print it off, fold it twice, stick it in an invitation envelope if you'd like, and you're good to go! The inside of the card contains the antiphon of the Magnificat for the Feast of the Epiphany.

For those of you who already got it last year (or the years before) nothing's changed...although you might've accidentally deleted it. :-)

God bless,

Kelly <------no Wise Men were destroyed in the making o' this card..

Thank you Dr. Horatio Robinson Storer

2011-12-29T17:48:00.000-08:00

Although largely forgotten today, Dr. Horatio Robinson Storer (1830-1922) was one of the most influential figures of the 19th century. He made large contributions to gynecology and abdominal surgery and substantial contributions to natural history, sanitation, and numismatics. However, the accomplishments of Dr. Storer that are remembered today, and the ones for which he most wished to be remembered, were related to the suppression of unnecessary intentional abortion.

Read the amazing article by Frederick N. Dyer, Ph.D., here.

Just in case you forgot? :-) My parish is on the ball!

2011-12-24T19:38:00.001-08:00

Merry, Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

God is with us!

Me? A Christmas Gift? Okay, I'll tell you what I'd like...

2011-12-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

I live in an African American neighborhood. For Christmas, I'd like to see an end to the "N" word. I don't care if you're black. You're not entitled to us it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have been hurt by that very, very, ugly word? No? Well, learn about it and shut the bleep up before using it.

I often walk through "gay" neighborhoods. (Boston, in fact, is a very small town.) For Christmas, I'd like to see an end to the "Q" word. I don't care if you're attracted to the same gender as yourself. You're not entitled to use it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have been hurt by that very, very, ugly word? No? Well, learn about it and shut the bleep up before using it.

Italian neighborhoods are great. But for Christmas, I'd like to see the end of the "D" word. I don't care if you're Italian. You're not entitled to use it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have been hurt by that very, very, ugly word? No? Well, learn about it and shut the bleep up before using it.

I'm a heterosexual, and as such, I would greatly appreciate NOT being called—even in jest—a "breeder" by friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. I don't care if you think it's funny. You're not entitled to use it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have tried to have babies and could not, and have therefore been very, very hurt by that word? No? Well, think about it and shut the bleep up before using it.

I'm a Catholic. And while I would rather you didn't trash my religion? I can take it. In fact, my religion helps me forgive all of the above.

Merry Christmas!

We make great websites!

2011-12-19T18:21:00.000-08:00

At the risk o' sounding crassly commercial, especially during this holy season, here's a crassly commercial post.

Check out Alden's latest website created for Marina Martin, accountant, here:

And just to assure you that I'm not totally crass, it might be a good time for you, um, well endowed folks to consider consulting an accounting firm before the year closes...you know, like, yeah, like charitable donations and such...yeah, that's right! :-)

Bring a Catholic back: a hopeful help to the Archdiocese of Boston's "streamlining" plans

2011-12-05T17:48:00.001-08:00

Today our Cardinal Archbishop presumably outlined a way for Boston parishes to "streamline"...to become, evidently, more efficient by sharing resources.

This is a good thing, don't get me wrong. To anyone who's been at Mass on Sundays during the last few years, there's an earthly problem, and it's called Not Enough Money, Not Enough Priests.

Or, as I like to call it, the NEM-NEP Syndrome.

Now, NEM-NEP is real. Parishes are already sharing priests. In the past, parishes have simply closed down. Everybody's exhausted, it's a real problem, etc., etc., etc.

But wait! Uh...something in the mix is missing here and it's pretty much the elephant in your living room and my parlor, and that is:

MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH!

Sorry for the yelling, but I did feel the need to wake some folks up. Now I'm talking about the Archdiocese of Boston here, yet I've a feeling this is true throughout the Roman Catholic Church. Again:

MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH!

Yes, indeed, they're baptized in Catholic churches, married in Catholic churches, and, may they rest in peace, buried out of Catholic churches.

But most Catholics don't participate—not one iota—in the Sunday celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

(Which—pssst—is a deadly, read "mortal" sin. Got that? Sure? Then say it with me: "deliberately eschewing Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is a mortal sin." Now then, what happens when one dies with the stain of mortal sin on his or her soul? You already know what happens.)

What has this do with the NEM-NEP syndrome?

Well, pretty much everything, or nearly so. If there's only a few folks in the pews, there's only a few bucks in the collection plate. That's the earthly reality. I mean, you don't expect folks who think nothing of dissing their Sunday and Holy Day obligations to—what?—send their contributions via Western Union or PayPal, do you?

And if there's a shortage of priests, then what are you expecting? Father Whosis to come to your bedside when you're sick and anoint you? Or to your deathbed to hear your confession?

Those days are gone, my friend. 'Course, most priests will drive themselves ragged to do just that…but the word "most" means "many" and there aren't many priests. It's that simple. Why is that, do you suppose? My guess?

MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH!

Which means their children don't either, more than likely. And how does one expect a child to discern a possible vocation when he's deprived of the glorious experience of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?

Anyway, screw the NEM-NEP syndrome for a moment and reflect on this horrible situation—far more horrible than a lack of finances or manpower:

MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH…and, ergo, most Catholics are endangering their souls.

Here's my point:

("Thank goodness, Kelly, it took you long enough!")

My weakness, and I apologize. And I also beg you, while the powers that be at the Archdiocese of Boston and their counterparts throughout the world struggle to manage the earthly affairs of their parishes:

Pray a Catholic back to the Church.

Adopt one, spiritually. At random, or a particular one you've got in mind. Devote your morning and evening prayers to the reconciliation of a fallen Catholic—yep, that's a phrase you can still use—and, even better, include this reconciliation in your Mass intentions.

And spread the word!

Ask your friends and family members to "adopt-a-fallen-Catholic" via prayer. Sheesh, I get at least six or seven email notes a day asking me to forward some wacky joke. Surely, it's within the realm of possibility to personally ask your spouse, your best friend, your sibling, your parish priest, your favorite nun (nuns are a really good bet, trust me) or anyone in your circle to participate in this project. God, I assure you, listens to prayers far more than He listens to the minutes of a Committee Meeting. (Meaning no disrespect to those who Sit On Committees or Those Who Submit Minutes of same.)

So c'mon! While the folks running the earthly Church do whatever it is they're doing to combat the NEM-NEP syndrome, let's do ours.

Pray a fallen Catholic back to the Church!

May God continue to bless you.

Happy New Year!

2011-11-27T11:10:00.001-08:00

May your Advent be a blessed and holy one!

Exploding religious myths...and correcting the unthinking

2011-11-10T17:38:00.001-08:00

A friend o' mine—and one I consider a very good friend—posted an unthinkingly unkind post today on Facebook and, while I forgive him and love him dearly, it made me think about a lot o' myths that people seem to cling to. Especially about religion.

And so, here then, is a brief primer that explodes ridiculous prejudices about religion.

Let's start with the obvious (to me, anyway) since my friend who inspired this is a born Muslim.

Myth: "Most Islamic imams preach terrorism. In fact, most imams rejoiced over 9/11/01."

Not true. Most imams really do preach peace. Don't tell me I'm wrong...I've heard many and have known, and do know, many members of Islam. Yes indeed, it was fanatic Muslims who attacked America (which happens to be my country so I'm a little more than interested) and yes, indeed, it may well have been fanatic Muslims who murdered Coptic Christians a few days ago in Egypt (and I've a friend who's a Coptic Christian and so I'm a little more than interested) but still. It's a myth. The vast majority of imams do not preach "terrorism against The Infidel." And don't tell me about the Koran. Check out the Old Testament if you're interested in discovering violence.

Myth: "Most Hindu Brahmin priests once forced widows to face the suttee."

Nah. While yes, a few hundred years ago, Hindu wives willingly allowed themselves to be burned after the death of their husbands, nobody—except perhaps Hindu society's societal niceties coupled with their own desires—forced them to.

Myth: "All Jewish Leaders Killed Christ!"

Sheesh. Nope. My sins and yours did the deed, and Jesus was perfectly willing to go along. This one always bemuses me, since I know Jews who are more Christian than many Catholics are.

Myth: Atheists "Are Evil People"

Wrong again. Atheists are, perhaps, unfortunate, but they're not "evil." In fact, atheists have a harder time than most, in my opinion, to seek goodness because they're on their own. No God to guide them? That's gotta be really tough, but I know many unbelievers who manage to do the right thing.

I've saved the most odious "myth" for last, and do you know why? Why, I'll tell you!

These days, and for quite a while now, nobody in the PC world would dare to repeat the above myths among the Beautiful People. I didn't really have to come to the defense of Islam, Hinduism, Israel, or atheism. C'mon. Today, any negative comment about the above groups would be considered "hate speech." Sheesh, I might be jailed for doing so!

Still, I meant what I wrote. Myths about religions abound.

But you know? There's only one group that's still fair game for the mythology game. And so I bring you:

Catholicism...The Last Permissible Victim of Bigotry.

Myths—politically correct ones, to be sure—about Catholicism abound...'way too many to blog about here. But here's the one that got my ire up today:

Myth: Most Catholic priests lust sexually after children...particularly boys.

This is a damned lie. If you have a scintilla of common sense, you know this. Or, if you have no common sense, you have at least the brains God (or whomever you worship) gave you to do the math.

As I said, there are a lot of myths about the Catholic Church—far more than I'm willing to go into right now.

But let me say this: you go around spreading this myth or any others?

You've got me to contend with. And trust me on this one...I'm not alone.

I've got a Really Good Friend to help me.

So do be careful. I may—and in fact, I do—pray for you all the time.

But I'll defend my faith against you or anybody else. To the death.

May God continue to bless you.

About that time change thing?

2011-11-05T20:15:00.000-07:00

For my good friends who arrive at Mass after the Offertory? Ignore the rumors. Just keep your clocks the way they are. No kidding.

This is a public service message from the Lady in the Pew.

All Saints Day. And Father Dennis Brown, OMV

2011-10-31T18:17:00.000-07:00

If I don't miss my guess—and, eschewing false modesty, I generally don't—my thought is that my good friend, Father Dennis Brown, OMV, is not only shivering with excitement at the November 1 Feast...he's actually begun to celebrate it.

Father Dennis is one of those very blessed people who understand—who know within his very heart and gut—that the saints are, besides Jesus and Mary, our very best friends.

When he served in Boston at Saint Francis Chapel, the "optional memorial" of any given saint—any of them—was not an option at all.

Father Dennis, I do believe, would pretty much take it as a personal affront if Saint-Whoever-Heard-of-This-Guy wasn't honored at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

It's just the way he is. He not only loves all saints, but considers them personal friends of his.

And so they are. And of yours and of mine as well.

Father Dennis' resume includes, I believe, a stint at a participant in the Congregation for Cause of Saints. What does this mean to me personally?

It made his a great confessor. Stern? No doubt about it. This man never refuses to call a sin...well, a sin.

But he also was and no doubt still is, God's instrument of hope. "Saints are sinners who kept trying" is a favorite admonition of his. As is, "Nunc Coepi" ("Now I begin!")...a favorite saying of his order's founder, Venerable Brunu Lanteri.

And so, as we celebrate all the saints, it's my great privilege to ask Our Lord to bless this good priest...a friend who not only introduced to me saints I'd never heard of, but more important? To rely on our "great cloud of witnesses" to pray for me...not just when I'm in a jam, but always.

Happy All Saints Day, Father Dennis! May you one day be a part of these great folks. (And don't worry...if you screw up? Nunc Coepi! ;-)

Father Dennis Brown, O.M.V., lives and works in the diocese of Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan. He regularly hosts retreats focusing on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, and also facilitates the formation of clergy and laity, especially in the discernment of the spirits.

New Roman Missal: Concluding Rites

2011-10-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

The word “Mass” comes fromthe Latin word MISSA (meaning sent or dismissed), a word that is spoken by thedeacon or priest as the assembly is dismissed: “Ite! Missa est!” (“Go! You aredismissed!”)

The importance of this finalact of the Mass cannot be overlooked. It's not a “dismissal” as we mightnormally think of that word: “Okay, you may go now.” Nor is it a punitive actas when one is “dismissed” (i.e., "You're fired!) No, this dismissal is very different.

In a real sense, the newRoman Missal changes the tone of the concluding rite. There is an urgency inthe words. It is less “you may go now” and more “you MUST go now toproclaim what God has done for us here!” In slang, it might be “Go!Scram! What are you still standing here for? Go and take what God has given ushere, and take it out to your workplaces, to your neighborhoods, to yourfamilies, your friends, EVERYBODY!”

There are four optionsfor the deacon or priest to use. One is the simple “Go in peace.” We're familiar with that. There is also “Go forth, the Mass is ended.” Can you hear how the “Goforth” conveys much of the sense of being sent?

This sense is also obvious inthe two remaining options, included at the command of Pope Benedict XVI. Thefirst of these is “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” Say that out load and listen to yourself! Itcan't be more explicit! We are sent out on mission—to announce the Gospel, tobe Christ’s witnesses, to work for the coming kingdom!

The remaining option for thedismissal is just as beautiful: “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by yourlife.” Through what God has just done for us, and through what God has done tous in this Eucharist, go, and by our lives—by how we live and act and treatothers and make decisions—by all of that, give glory to the Lord!

The Pew Lady's Conclusion

[thank goodness, Kelly...thought you'd never shut up!]

Hey, never mind that. Ahem:

Some people thrive onchange…lots of people hate it. Personally? I'm not all that into change myself. But whether you love change or avoid it...it’s always a challenge.

By the grace of God, we’re upfor it. Oh, sure, we’ll probably stumble a bit at the beginning. But, I’mconfident that sooner, rather than later, we’ll find that these new words we’lluse at Mass will help us to elevate what is most important in our lives: ourholiness.

May God bless you.

New Roman Missal: The Liturgy of the Eucharist

2011-10-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

One significant change in thenew Roman Missal is that the familiar acclamation “Christ has died. Christ isrisen. Christ will come again” will no longer be used as an acclamation to theMystery of Faith. The reason for this is that the three options given for theacclamation are all addressed to the Lord (e.g., “We proclaim your Death, OLord…”). They all note our relationship to Christ’s Paschal Mystery (“When weeat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord…”). Theacclamation “Christ has died…” does not follow this form; so it was notincluded in the options.

And you know, it makes sense. Yes, I understand that this is a favorite proclamation, but do remember that it's a proclamation, not an acclamation! Why on earth, when the Lord Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, is right here, right now, live and in Person, is present—really present!—right here with us, would we speak about Him as if He'd left the room?

It's a beautiful statement of our faith, and I do urge you to say it right out loud or in your hearts while you're walking down the street, driving, whenever...but not when Jesus is right here with you. Talk to Him...not about Him.

Also, instead of directing us to give theacclamation (“Let us proclaim…”), the priest will simply announce, “The Mysteryof Faith,” acknowledging the reality that our acclamation is something thatwells up, without needing to be asked for.

The last noticeable change inthe Liturgy of the Eucharist will be the invitation and response to HolyCommunion. The priest will say, “Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who takesaway the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of theLamb.” There are two key allusions to scripture here: John the Baptistidentifying Jesus as the Lamb (John 1:29) and the angel’s declaration inRevelation (19:9) regarding those “called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”Our response, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, butonly say the word, and my soul shall be healed,” echoes the words of theCenturion, who asked Jesus to heal his servant (Luke 7:6-7, Matthew 8:5-13). Aswe are presented with the very Body and Blood of Christ, we are called to thesame, deep level of faith as the Centurion.

(By the way, do visit here, click on the word "here" in the lower right hand of the page, and download the new responses to the Mass.)

New Roman Missal: Gloria and Credo

2011-10-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

The Gloria

Our parish has been, for the past few Sundays, practicing that greatsong of praise. I hope yours has been, too. Since we won’t be using it during Advent, the bishops gave uspermission to do so. The first part of the Gloria sounds slightly different:“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.” Thisis almost a direct quote from Luke’s Gospel as he describes the angelsrejoicing at the birth of Christ. And by the way, it’s a great example of howthe enhancements to the Mass echo what we find in scripture.

The Creed

The first change that we encounter in the Nicene Creed isthe changing of We to I—from the plural to the singular. This is not todiminish our sense of community but is simply a more accurate translation ofthe word Credo –“ I believe.” The reciting of the Creed is a communal act;,however, each individual in the assembly is called upon to profess his or herown faith just as he or she did in Baptism. Our individual profession is thenjoined together with the profession of the whole assembly.

Next, the words “of all that is seen and unseen” will become“of all things visible and invisible.” There is a difference between somethingthat is unseen and something that is invisible. Something may be unseen for anumber of reasons, including an obstacle in our line of vision. Somethinginvisible, however, is clearly unable to be seen with the naked eye, forexample, the saints and angels who occupy a place in our worship. They are notjust unseen but invisible.

The second part of the Creed, which deals with our beliefsin Jesus Christ, has a number of changes in the new Roman Missal. Here are justthree:

* “consubstantial with the Father” – this replaces the phrase “one in being”in describing the relationship between the Father and the Son. The early Churchlabored intensely to find the correct words to define Jesus’ relationship withthe Father. Consubstantial, while an unusual word in English, means literally“having the same substance,” which is more technically accurate than “one inbeing.” Sure, it’s an unusual word, but then again it is describingsomeone and something unusual and unique: Jesus Christ and his relationshipwith the Father.

And I love this one! Every pro-lifer should!

* “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary”– here, the word incarnate replaces born. To be born describes the moment of birth. To be incarnatedescribes the moment of conception: the Word became incarnate – became flesh –in Mary’s womb.

Finally, instead of saying “we look for the resurrection”we’ll say “I look FORWARD to the resurrection of the dead and the life of theworld to come.” Amen! This expresses not only our EAGERNESS for theresurrection but our confidence that it will happen!

(Many thanks to Loyola Press and Mystical Bod, Mystical Voice for help on this!)

New Roman Missal: The Penitential Act

2011-10-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

It’s an “act,” rather than a “rite.” Calling it an “act”more strongly conveys the reality of both our sins and our true sorrow forthem. One option for the act is the “Confiteor”—I confess to almighty God…). Inthe new translation, we will admit that we have GREATLY sinned. And striking ourbreasts, you and I will confess that we have sinned “though my fault, throughmy fault, through my most grievous fault.” As you practice the enhancedpenitential act, and when we actually begin to use it, please God may the wordswe say add to a more humble disposition as we prepare to celebrate the Mass.

For a downloadable PDF file of all the responses to the Mass, do go here and, in the lower right corner, click on the word "here."

The New Roman Missal: Starting with the Greeting

2011-10-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

On the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, the opening ofour new liturgical year, look forward to some changes in the words, music, andgestures of the glorious miracle we know as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

It’s called the New Roman Missal, and it involves the folksin the pews as it does our priests and deacons.

First, let’s dispense with what the New Roman Missal is NOT:

It’s NOT “something coming to us out of the blue.” Thisparticular version has, in reality, been a part of a prayerful process for some40 years!

It’s NOT “an attempt to reverse Vatican II.”

It’s NOT—and I’ve actually heard this—a “cultural stepbackward for English speaking people.”

In fact, these changes—and I believe the correct term is“enhancements”—represent a giant leap forward in our reverent and lovingworship of Almighty God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Let’s start with the greeting.

The Mass isn’t a chance encounter between friends, and sothe greeting is no ordinary “Hiya, how are ya, anyway”/ “fine thanks, and you”sort of thing. Rather, it a ritual greeting and response. When the priestgreets us with the words “The Lord be with you” we will respond “And with yourspirit.” We’re not saying “hi” to the priest, and he’s not saying “hi” to us.We’re both going beyond that by extending a solemn wish to someone about toundertake a profound undertaking. This exchange takes place at several criticalmoments during the Mass: as we are about to hear the Gospel proclaimed; as weenter into the Eucharistic Prayer; as we are about to be dismissed. Remember,the name “spirit” refers not to the priest or deacon’s soul, but to the spirithe received through the laying on of hands at his ordination.

This is going to be great! Next, God willing, the Penitential Act. (Note: I said "Act," not "rite." Stay tuned! And do try to find out all you can about this enhanced English translation...and by the way, watch out for "progressives" who turn out to be averse to change! ;-)

October 16 homily by Deacon Greg Kandra...worth the read!

2011-10-15T18:06:00.000-07:00

For the last several days, we’ve been hearing a lot about the demonstrations being staged in lower Manhattan and around the country: Occupy (Fill in the Blank) – Occupy Wall Street, Los Angeles, Washington…thousands of people taking to the streets to express their frustration over the economy and anger at Wall Street. It remains to be seen how far the protests will go, or how long they’ll last. It’s unclear if they’ll even have any impact.

But the protests have reminded me of another demonstration — one that was very different from what we’re seeing on Evening News.

It happened 50 years ago last weekend, October 7^th 1961, in the Polo Field at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. By one estimate, the crowd that day numbered 550,000 people. And like the people gathered on Wall Street these days, they were doing something countercultural, even radical, by demonstrating something almost unthinkable today.

Faith.

They were there to pray.

Dear Lord, did I answer this at all correctly? I trust in You!

2011-10-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

A reader wrote:

Hey Kelly, I'm having a hard time forgiving our roman catholic church for the continued and long history of child abuse. I do go to church lately, but I'm always reminded of the abuse of so many, and the protecting and transferring of these priest by Rome! I don't like to give money to my church any more, because of all the church funds that are used for law suits! How do you rectify all this and still believe out lord Jesus is still in charge of our church?

My answer:

Thank you for your note.

I spent much of the day wracking my head, trying to think of something Profound and Irrefutable to expound upon that would totally blow you away and convince you that being a Catholic is the Best Thing There Could Be...and came up empty.

As it happened, I needn't have busted what I laughingly call my brain. ;-)

First, I realized that today is the Memorial of Saint Faustina -- the little nun who promoted the endlessness of God's Divine Mercy.

Before Mass, I went to Confession...and was, once again, forgiven.

At Mass today, I heard in the first reading, the story of Jonah, God's mercy on Nineveh, and Jonah's being ticked off about it.

The Gospel centered on the Lord's Prayer..."forgive us, as we forgive those who sin against us."

During the homily, the priest mentioned that he'd programmed his phone to remind him every day at 3:00 PM -- the hour of Christ's death -- to pray the prayer Saint Faustina promoted: "Jesus, I trust in you."

I received Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

After Mass, I stayed for awhile and God gave me a beautiful gift...a treat for my eyes. I saw a lady walk slowly toward the tabernacle and, upon reaching it, sink to her knees in adoration and love.

I know that Jesus is still in charge of His Church because He left us Himself in the Blessed Sacrament...and because He told us He'd be with us, even until the end of time.

And I trust Him to do so.

I do hope this is somehow helpful, [person who wrote me]...you were in my prayers today and I look forward to praying for you some more. I ask for yours, whenever you get the chance.

Thank you,

Kelly

P.S. Money? My offerings aren't all that stupendous either, mostly because I'm broke half the time ;-)

Can we can the "first names" of priests and religious? Please?

2011-10-03T17:46:00.001-07:00

Okay, I realize many Protestants hop on the words "call no man Father" yada yada yada. This argument is handled pretty much in this essay.

Only don't go there yet. Or if you do, please come back, especially if you're a Catholic because I'm talking to YOU.

Would you PLEASE stop addressing and/or talking about priests and religious by their first names?

Recounting of a recent fellow parishioner about something or other in the parish:

She: "And so Kevin said blah blah blah and Carlos answered blah blah blah and then Bob said blah blah blah to which Tanya said blah blah blah, and then Jonathan said blah blah blah, only then Joe said blah blah blah but then, Olga replied blah blah blah...

Me: "Huh? Who?"

Turns out my good friend was referring to several priests and sisters. Who knew?

Look, good people. The ordained — and religious as well — didn't go through a lot of stuff, only to be addressed by the guy who pumps your gas. By omitting their titles—titles conferred upon them by God—you're dumbing down the respect their office deserves. So please. Cut it out.

"But Kelly...my parish priest insists that I call him by his first name!"

Don't do it. Politely decline, if necessary. Pray for him, certainly. He may very well think that, by doing this, he's "coming closer" to his flock. Bah (forgive the pun). What he's in fact doing is relinquishing a precious bit of his authority as a pastor.

Address those called by God by their proper titles.

Save the first name bit for your physicians, senators, and presidents, if you must. (And iff they'll let you.)

Thanks!

"It is right and just!" Why are too many Boston priests hesitating over the new Roman Missal?

2011-09-26T17:57:00.001-07:00

It is right and just, of course to give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is also right and just to teach the folks in the pews the long awaited prayers of the Mass which are scheduled to begin, for English speaking congregations, on the First Sunday of Advent.

I am not to begin to be an "apologetic" for the changes in the Missal. They're great and long overdue.

What I'm wondering is simple: when the bleep are priests, in my Archdiocese anyway, going to help us get used to it? When Advent comes? After that? Next year? What?

I live in Boston.

Which is often called the "Hub of the Universe." It's also one of the largest center of Catholics in the United States.

Yet, I've still not heard one iota about "The New Missal" (and by the way, I'm starting to despise that term) from the churches and chapels I attend, which include The Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Saint Francis Chapel, and the chapel at Massachusetts General Hospital (and it is only my good angel who is preventing me from linking to all).

There are some exceptions, I'm sure. I've found one. Our Lady of Victories Parish, in the South End, blessedly, is offering parishioners not just the new responses, but the Scriptural reasons behind the new and beautiful words.

But what I've heard from priests I know, when asked about the lack of education to the folks in the pews? Well, here's a sprinkling:

What "New Missal?"

The Archdiocese should take care of this.

We're busy with other important things.

This last one makes me cry. What in God's world could be more important than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? What?

Come on, Fathers. Help us out here. It is right and just.

Around the blogs...

2011-09-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

Jeff Miller wants a vote.

Father Z talks about the blood of Saint Januraius. (Very cool.)

Sister Mary Martha answers an interesting Rosary Question.

Jill Stanek lets us know what's going on in Taiwan and other stuff.

Mark Shea is a'rattlin' that tin cup, God love him.

Cardinal O'Malley meets with his fellow Capuchins...and talks about so many things.

Enjoy!

"Tragedy" vs. "Attacks"

2011-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

The word "tragedy" when applied to 9/11, always bugged me.

A "tragedy" is, for example, when a child dies, accidentally, of an inexplicable disease.

Or a mom is killed in an automobile accident.

Or someone falls off a roof while attempting to fix a leak.

No one's at fault. There's no one to blame. All we can say is: "this is God's will" and try to deal with it. With prayers, one hopes.

Today, I grumbled—to myself, I thought, but evidently not without earshot—at the words of our parish program: "...the tragic events of September 11, 2001."

"They weren't `tragic' events," I mumbled. "It was an attack."

My good friend Father Jonathan Gaspar, overhearing me, quipped: "I know what you're going to blog about tonight."

I denied it vehemently. No way!

Father Gaspar was, as it turns out, correct.

Here's the thing:

Whom do you forgive when a child dies of an unknown disease? The disease?

Whom do you forgive when a mom dies in a car accident? The accident?

Whom do you forgive when the guy falls off the leaky roof? The leak? The roof itself?

Bosh.

The reason we need to understand that 9/1/01 wasn't a "tragedy" but rather an attack is very simple, at least to a Christian.

It gives us the opportunity to forgive.

While you can't forgive a roof, or a disease, or an accident, you—and I—can surely forgive those who attack us.

That's the point. Hard as it might be, we are bound to forgive our enemies. That surely must be the only reason why God created enemies in the first place.

Because God did create those who attacked this country ten years ago. And you know what? He loves them very much. God doesn't deal in trash. He deals in love.

Most of you heard the readings of the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time today. The Scriptures fairly scream the word: FORGIVENESS!

So stop the "tragedy" baloney and call it what it was: an attack by our enemies.

That, you see, clears our eyes from the dimness that clouds the commandment Jesus left us:

Love. Forgive. Seventy-times times seven. In other words? Always.

May our Merciful Father forgive and continue to love us all. Amen.

This weekend's challenge: forgiveness

2011-09-09T17:51:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago, some people committed suicide in order to kill thousands of Americans. I was personally affected but this isn't what this post is about.

Here's the thing: if you're a Christian, these people—what's more, the people who sent them—must be personally forgiven. By you and by me.

If you're a Christian, you must forgive those who rejoiced in the deaths of our fellow countrymen.

If you're a Christian, you must not only forgive them...you must pray for them. That's it. That's your job and that's my job.

Easy? Probably not. Essential? Ask Jesus.

You know what you have to do. It's time to do it.

That's it. Let's roll.

About "war crimes"

2011-09-03T18:17:00.000-07:00

I am constantly amazed by folks who think War is a game where there are somehow "rules" as to how the "game" is played. This is absurd.

An anti-war site "uncovered" [gasp!] an instance where [gasp!] innocent people were killed in War and are Outraged at this Heinous Crime. Here is my response to them, and to you:

~~~~~~

War is really bad. War destroys all sorts of people. Born and unborn. All creatures made in the image of God. This is what war does.

If it weren't so sad, I'd be amused by the term "war crimes." War IS a crime. Against humanity. Against God's children.

And you've gotta love the word "heinous." What the bleep does that mean? That sometimes killing is "un-heinous?" C'mon.

Folks. We're at war. You can't pick and choose, much as we'd all like to. War sucks. People die in wars. People don't merely die (after all, people die in hurricanes, volcanoes, car accidents, illness, old age, etc.) In war, people are killed by OTHER PEOPLE. People who, in my faith, are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

That's what war does. It kills people. Accept it.

But please don't come back to me and tell me that "some wars" are justified. I believe some wars are, but you folks who want to pick and choose "who gets killed and who doesn't"...forget about it. I don't want to hear from you because you are hypocritical, at best.

I also don't want to hear from you about our "WWII heroes," our "Korean War Heroes," nor do I want to hear from you about our "Revolutionary War" heroes. I don't want to see you celebrating Independence Day because there wouldn't BE an Independence Day if it weren't for War. (Wars which, in case you don't know, killed innocent people.)

I don't want to hear you extol Davy Crockett, General Patton, Bill Clinton, FDR, JFK, Barack Hussein Obama, or ANY American — including our troops now out there trying to save our sorry asses — because that would be hypocritical of you, too.

War makes otherwise decent people do indecent things. That's what War is all about. It's...horrible.

You have a choice. And, to their credit, some doves *have* made that choice. They have courageously condemned war under ANY circumstances. I respect those people tremendously.

These are people I'll listen to. But for the rest of you who want your cake and eat it too? Screw.

I don't want to listen to your "rules" about what's "fair" in War. Because contrary to the saying, nothing's "fair" in War. It's not a game. It's about killing each other.

May God have mercy on us all.

I love when Father Bob Lowrey celebrates Mass because I forget who he is when he does so

2011-08-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

Sounds nuts? Think again.

Father Bob Lowrey, OMV, a priest at Saint Francis Chapel in Boston, hasn't celebrated Mass for quite a while, except as a concelebrant.

But he's beginning to do so again (and would no doubt chastise me soundly for even blogging about this but I have a feeling he'll never see it so I feel pretty safe) and this is unquestionable evidence -- as if we need it -- of God's love for His Church.

He is, to my mind, the perfect example of how priests should celebrate Mass while facing the congregation. I wish I could videotape him. Were I able to do so, I would beg the Pope to make the tape required viewing, a zillion times over, for every priest and seminarian.

How is this so?

For one thing, there's no "hi, how are ya" or "hey, have a great day" at either the beginning or end of the Holy Sacrifice. Father Bob epitomizes Father's Z's often quoted "read the black, do the red." I presume, for physical reasons, Father Bob doesn't give homilies anymore. Which, in a way, is too bad, because I remember vividly his ability to break open the Scriptures...stunningly.

But, in another way, it really doesn't matter.

Father Bob, with his impeccable determination to, like Saint John the Baptist, "decrease as the Lord increases," doesn't need words to preach the Gospel. His actions...or perhaps his inactions (he does nothing that isn't necessary to celebrate what is the most beautiful gift God has given us...the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) really do speak far louder than words.

In Persona Christi

I've known Father Bob for many years. I'd like to think we are friends. To converse with him is a joy. But when he's behind the altar at Mass, I forget all that. All I can concentrate on is the Blessed Trinity...and on the Sacrifice of Jesus taking place, right then and right now. The Lord has given us many gifts...not the least of which is Father Robert Lowrey, OMV.

And if anybody tells him I've blogged about him...I'll get even with you! :-)

Archbishop Dolan really DID trump "60 Minutes"

2011-08-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

I just watched an interview with Archbishop Timothy Dolan by Morely Safer. I didn't really want to see it...call it a mood thing...but my husband thought it'd be interesting to me, so I did.

Sheesh, the Archbishop lovingly creamed Mr. Safer! When I grow up, I'd like to be like His Excellency. Affable, loving, and as strong as spun silver, Archbishop Dolan pulled absolutely no punches and captured the show for Catholicism...and for Christ.

I didn't realize it was a rerun, and planned to blog more about it, but hey, why should I when the able Tom Crowe did it 153 days ago! Read his post. You'll be glad you did.

A dark night of the soul...why me? Why not me?

2011-08-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

Our wise old Church has discovered that if you will act as if you believed belief will be granted to you; if you pray with doubt, but pray with sincerity, your doubt will be dispelled; if you will surrender yourself to the beautify of that liturgy the power of which over the human spirit has been proved by the experience of the ages, peace will descend upon you.

--Father Ensheim to Larry in The Razor's Edge, a novel by W. Somerset Maugham

Good writer, Maugham. I've read this book several times, and some of his short stories -- Miss Thompson comes to mind -- but don't know much about him and don't really care to at this point so if you'd refrain from commenting about him I'd appreciate it.

I'd rather believe his words, given to the fictional Father Ensheim to the equally fictitious Larry Darnell, were somehow inspired by God...Who seems, for the moment, to have forsaken me.

Yes, indeed. Of all people, Kelly Thatcher, aka Patricia Lynn Marie Kelly Clark Thatcher, is...doubting.

I don't want to doubt. I love my God...who seems to have left me alone. Temporarily, one hopes. The only times, lately (and let's not get all dramatic about this...it's only happened within the past few days...or has it been months, sporadically spaced?) I've found solace is when I'm in the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and guess what? My life choices have made 24/7 Presence not exactly possible.

So. I'm doubting. I'm praying. And oddly enough, I believe my prayers are heard. Mary, for example, seems to understand. But God? My Father? My Abba? Where is He?

Where the bleep ARE You?

It's funny, really. And I mean funny, in a humorous way. Dark humor, no doubt, but still...wasn't it just last Sunday night that I pondered, with the help of the Pope's book Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, Jesus crying out the words of Psalm 22? And smugly, if it must be confessed, completely understanding the fact that this most lovable, most adorable, God-made-Man was taking on Himself all of my fears, all of Israel's fears...all of my sins.

I have committed so many sins. Only a God could withstand them all.

Yes, I know that to deny God's merciful love is the greatest sin of all. Yet knowing that, how easy it is to fall into this denial.

I'm hanging on by my fingernails to prevent this fall. Intellectually, I know that God my Father knows this. 'Course, intellectually, I know that E=MC squared but am at a loss to explain it. Or to understand it.

I really don't like this.

Yet, what is my loneliness to compare with that of Jesus on the Cross? Nothing, I know that. Am I wallowing in self-pity? Indeed, I believe I am.

Yes, yes, I know about Mother Teresa, John of the Cross, all of them.

To put it bluntly: what have they to do with me? I'm no saint. I'm not a missionary, a thinker, a doctor of the Church.

But DAMMIT, I AM a child of God! Even I, like the Canaanite woman and her daughter, get, like the dogs, the scraps from the table of the saints. Or should.

Well, this selfish tirade (only it's not really a tirade...I'm too weary for that just now) has certainly gone on long enough. I plan to post this silly--very silly--blog, share it, perhaps...and hope.

And pray. With sincerity. As if I believe my doubt will be dispelled.

What Messiah are we waiting for?

2011-08-05T17:11:00.000-07:00

The Jews, in Jesus' time, are and have been and no doubt will be criticized—and perhaps rightly so—for expecting a Messiah who would (a) expunge the enemies of the chosen people and (b) elevate Us Good Guys.

"My kingdom is not of this world," Our Lord said, countless times. We get it.

But do we?

I don't know about you, but I often do NOT get it.

And you know...I'm not sure even the most devout Christians get it.

I've been—what? Guilty? Whatever—of "piously" echoing the prophet's plea: "How long, O Lord?!?" when facing what I deem to be evil.

But "how long" for what? Do I anticipate eagerly the Second Coming of Christ in order to Banish All Those Evil People?

If so, I am not getting it.

After the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, he was given the "keys to the Kingdom." Yet, moments later, while rebuking his Messiah for His determination to face the Cross, he was rebuked himself..."Get thee behind me, Satan!"

Maybe it's just me, and I pray that it is, but from what I hear and read from truly devout Christians? I doubt it. I think that sometimes we're like Mrs. Zebedee...asking, goaded on my our all too human perspective of creation, that our families, our friends, be given positions of "power" when the "Kingdom finally comes." And to hell with the rest of those nasty folk: the anti-Christians, the "cafeteria Catholics," the abortionists, and all those other sinners.

And that's all wrong.

First of all, the Kingdom is already here. Jesus proclaimed it. Second of all, it's "not of this world!"

So all of our lamentations, our grievances, our "hey, this is unfair" complaints? They're about as silly as those folks in the desert complaining about the taste of the manna.

The answer is Love.

No, I'm not talking about a Beatles song, or about ignoring evil. But what I've come to realize is quite simple: Jesus is Love, and as Love, is concerned with all of us...even, no actually especially, those people we humans, sometimes, long to see expunged.

Can we, do you think, take a furlough from our lofty seat of judgment? For example, can we, instead of writing frantic letters to the papal nuncio, take a moment to pray for the subjects of our letters (and, by the way, for the Nuncio as long as we're at it)? Can we quietly refrain from loudly announcing our intention to boycott thus and so retailer—yes, boycott it if we will, but quietly— and use the energy we would spent on organizing such a boycott to simply pray for the people we are boycotting? In other words, can we cut the crap about How Good We Are and spend some time praying for those who's actions offend our sensibilities?

We won't get much worldly notice for doing this.

But do we really give a bleep about "worldly notice?" What good, in the end, will that do us? His Kingdom is not of this world, after all.

How about us?

Facebook welcomes unborn babies to your families!

2011-07-29T17:56:00.000-07:00

Very cool. If you're pregnant, or your wife is pregnant, Facebook evidently acknowledges that your unborn child is...a child!

In editing your family member profile, you can now add "I'm expecting" to your clan. Kudos to the Social Network.

Around the blogs...

2011-07-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

Flash: new RCAB hiree Chris Kickham is actually Father Bob Kickham's brother, not cousin. [yawn]

Father Z wants to scare the hell out of us

Jeff Miller discovers blogger Father Thomas Dowd is actually a bishop ;-)

Father Longenecker ponders on atheism and madness...or at least shizophrenia

Mark Shea refers us to Cody Willard on Ron Paul

Atonement Parish and George Weigel wonder why Francis Ford hasn't been beatified

Most important: Melanie asks for prayers for Lucie Lin Frazier and her family. Lucie died last night. Thank you.

"Maria talking about abortion" and her make-believe "Aunt Lucia": Latinos, you're being used.

2011-07-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Here's the thing. I'm BLEEPING PAYING for some cartoonish idiot and her equally idiotic "aunt" to sell folks on abortion. BLEEPING TIRED of it!

Governor Patrick, take this horrible site DOWN! Now!

(Here it is, Guv, just in case you have the same difficulty navigating the web as you evidently do governing the Commonwealth.)

(Generally I don't get this upset about things but when I'm asked to pay for some bone head -- offense definitely intended, Governor Patrick -- advocating kids and older females to commit something something heinous -- like killing a child, and, not incidentally, killing the mother's spirit as well -- well, heck, what can I say? I get ticked off.

By the way, you Latina and Latino amigos o' mine -- how do you feel about being USED to promote the destruction of your children? I mean, come on. Look at the "image" of "Maria." Look at what her "Aunt Lucia" says? Are you falling for this? You're being USED, friends.

The "procedure" that was promoted to reduce the population of African Americans -- and succeeded -- is now being used against you, folks. You're going to stand for it?

Personally, I find it interesting that "Maria Talks" is under the auspices of the "Health and Human Services" Director JudyAnn Bigby, don't you?

Medjugorje: let's be careful out there

2011-07-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

"Mary, pray for us, and soften the hearts of unbelievers."

I saw this Medjugorje-related post on Facebook and truly pray that it refers to unbelievers in Christ, rather than those of us who have serious doubts about the apparitions of Our Lady to some kids in Yugoslavia.

For those from Mars, a bit o' background: ;-)

On June 24, 1981, six children in the town of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia (today, Bosnia-Herzegovina), began to experience phenomena which they alleged to be apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This apparition had a message of peace for the world, as well as a call to conversion, prayer and fasting. It also entrusted to the children secret messages about events to be fulfilled in the future. These "secrets," confided individually to different visionaries, have not been revealed to the public. The apparitions themselves have continued almost daily since 1981, with some of the now young adults continuing to experience them regularly (those who have not yet received all the secrets intended for them) and others not. Originally they occurred on a hilltop near the town where a large Cross commemorating the Redemption exists. They have since occurred in many other places, including the parish church, St. James, and wherever the visionaries happen to be located at the time of the apparition. (compliments of EWTN)

Here's what scares me and prompts me to pray:

There are some people—the visionaries of course, but thousands of pilgrims—who Truly Believe in the Medjugorje apparitions. I have heard and spoken to many, many good folk who have traveled there, returning with (and I don't doubt their testimony, by the way) Rosaries that have been turned into gold, healings (both physical, and perhaps, spiritual...perhaps) and a myriad of "miracles."

I put "miracles in quotes because I'm not sure from whence these "miracles" derive. Hence, my prayers.

I'm afraid for people who have put all their faith in Medjugorje.

I'm afraid that, if—and this is a very plausible "if"—the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, receives and reports the revelation that the "apparitions" at Medjugorje are either not real at all, or, perhaps worse, the work of demonic activity (don't HIT me! It's possible!)? I fear the loss of faith in the Church of Jesus Christ...something even the most devoted Medjugorje pilgrim, I would hope, find appalling. At least, Our Lady would.

Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Archbishop Chaput: "Our Choices Shape Our Eternity"

2011-07-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

In Muslim countries like Pakistan, many of the young men begin studying the Koran as soon as they can read. In fact, many of them learn to read using the Koran. They read and discuss the Koran every day, for hours each day, every day of the week until they know it by heart. Many of them can recite whole sections of the Koran without thinking. Little by little, like water dripping on a stone, it shapes their whole view of the world—what’s right and what’s wrong; what’s important and what’s not.

Here in America, we have a similar kind of training. It’s called television. The typical American spends between three and seven hours a day watching TV and sees well over 2 million commercials in the course of a lifetime.

Great blog by the Archbishop. Read the whole thing here.

Father Roger Landry: Toward the true pastoral care of those with same-sex attractions

2011-07-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

Father Roger Landry wrote a very loving piece...far, FAR better than I could have expressed it, but putting into words what I've tried to express...and what I've tried so hard to tell myself.

One piece -- of many! -- struck me:

Gay pride is an expression that embraces something far different than respect for all those with same-sex attractions. Rather it connotes: treating same-sex activity as a quasi-sacrament to be celebrated instead of a sin to be confessed; approval and advocacy of same-sex relationships, lifestyle, unions, and "marriages;" rejection and ridicule of Biblical and magisterial teaching on human sexuality; and acceptance of a deeply-flawed anthropology that totally marginalizes the meaning of God's having made the human person in His image and likeness male and female (Gen 1:27).

But there's so much more. Please read the entire column here.

Saint Cecilia's Parish...and how Father Unni (inadvertently perhaps) got me thinking

2011-07-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

So, anyway, Father Unni, pastor of Saint Cecilia's Parish in Boston, and his parishioners, have evidently got their way in being allowed to "celebrate" Mass this Sunday to "celebrate" the "LGBT" community.

(Parenthetically, I've got a question: what do the sexual preferences of people have to do with transgendered folk? I never quite understood that.)

From the website (and yes, it is from the parish website...please don't tell me it's a "link" okay? It's right on the home page):

Please join the entire Saint Cecilia parish community for next Sunday's eleven o'clock liturgy where we will reaffirm that Saint Celia is a place of welcome for all, including the LGBT community.

Okay, what's wrong with this paragraph?

First of all, I believe the Sunday "liturgy" is called a "Mass."

That said, the purpose of a "Mass," at least for Catholics, isn't to "reaffirm" anything except the Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Who isn't even mentioned in the notice, by the way) and to celebrate the fact that His Sacrifice is repeated, and that, through the words of His priest, His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity is made present under the species of bread and wine.

This is a bleeping MIRACLE, folks! And it isn't even mentioned. The notice seems to be glorifying the wrong people.

But wait...there's more!

In order to mark the occasion, Mass will be followed by a reception and a bountiful table. [And then it goes on to ask for help to provide foo for the "feast," yadda, yadda, yadda.]

This is all wrong.

Forget the fact that sin seems to be the star of the show. I mean, taken as it is, maybe they're merely saying "we welcome everybody who happens to be sexually attracted to the same gender, those who are attracted to their own gender and also to the opposite sex, and, while we're at it, those who truly believe they're not the gender they find themselves strapped into."

Maybe. (I doubt that, to be honest with you, but it's nice to think I might be wrong in my doubts.)

The real question is this:

When and why did we start "celebrating" all sorts of things other than Jesus Christ?

I mean, we have Masses to "celebrate" everything from long-time married couples, to the Boy Scouts, to those Who Have Contributed to The Church, to All Those Varied But Worthy Causes—well, the list goes on.

And so, this whole SNAFU has gotten me thinking (ouch! my head!):

Why don't we slow down, stop dislocating our shoulders by patting ourselves on the back, and remember what the Mass is all about?

If we're not ready, or catechized enough, to even acknowledge the sacred mystery of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, then we're damn well not ready to start sharing the stage—or, in many cases, including evidently this one—to usurp the celebration of the most loving God-made-Man.

You know, there's another option:

Most celebrants offer their Masses for a special intention, which is generally announced before the Mass begins, or perhaps during the Eucharistic prayer, or in the Prayers of the Faithful, or all three.

Can't we just stick to that? As in: "This holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for the unification of all Christians." Or "This Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for the intentions of the Boy Scouts of America." Or "This Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for all married couples celebrating their [fill in the number] anniversary." Or "This Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for those who are living with same-gender attraction."

You get my point.

May we consider the notion of keeping the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the celebration of Christ's Sacrifice for us...and leave the partying for a time more appropriate?

My cousin Steve Hardoin on Casey Anthony

2011-07-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

I admit that I have not been following the Casey Anthony trial at all but of the little I know of it, it is sad that another young life was lost at the whim of her mother. I do have to wonder though, if it were just two years earlier, and the mother facilitated for someone to help birth the baby somewhat, then take a pair of scissors to the back of the baby's skull, then have the baby' brains sucked out before crushing the skull, Casey might have been heralded as a heroine activist for feminine rights.

Read the whole thing here. It was posted July 5.

(Interesting to note that this point was picked up by Rush Limbaugh yesterday.)

Evangelization: how do we do it?

2011-07-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, a Protestant lady I know slightly—she's involved in ministry—and I were chatting casually about a Catholic priest who's a mutual friend. The lady clearly thinks the world of him, which was nice enough to hear. But then she said:

"I just love Father X. He truly makes me wish I could become a Catholic priest."

Then she shrugged away the notion and went about her business, saying breezily something like "of course, your Church won't let me."

I wish her sentence would've stopped at the word "Catholic."

This has been bothering me all day. Should it? I truly don't know.

"Father, Your Son has asked that we ask you to send workers in Your harvest. Grant that I be the sort of Catholic others will want to emulate. In the Name of Jesus. Amen."

Planned Parenthood Lies. Again. Does anybody actually believe their you-know-what?

2011-06-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Indiana and all the ships at sea! Breaking news bulletin? [yawn] Your state Planned Parenthood organization has been [yawn] once again caught in a [yawn] bleeping LIE!

The crickets are cheeping not because this boring per se...but because it's so bleeping predictable. Planned Parenthood was built on lies, has operating on lies, and continues to operate on lies.

Founded on the notion that A Better World could be obtained by eliminating, or at least "controlling," the population of blacks, the disabled, the mentally challenged, and other "undesirables," Planned Parenthood has a knack for getting itself caught in everything from child sex trafficking to being merely stupid. All to worship the baal called Abortion which, of course, is murder but in the PP dictionary is described as a "woman's right." Crap, right? 'Course it is.

The latest? Back in May...

...when threatened with the loss of your money and my money funding its monstrous activities, the outraged organization sent out a press release on behalf of its Indiana "projects." Included in the hissy fit was this interesting tidbit [read: LIE]:

The law [defunding PP] deprives Medicaid patients of their choice of health care provider in violation of federal law.

Not so. You, Cecile Richards, were speaking like a moron. And a liar.

As if anybody with a brain needed to know this (and evidently, folks do!) Live Action did what they do best...exposed the lie.

Get this, folks, in Indiana and elsewhere: NO WOMAN needs Planned Parenthood, be they Medicaid patients or ordinary folk to obtain preventative health care!

Tell me, ladies...if the local baby killer in your city folded, would you be screaming that you would no longer be able to obtain, say, a pelvic or mammogram? Didn't think so.

In other news—surprise!—President Obama is apparently threatening to cut off poor folk from health care unless legislators take note of his stamping and screaming temper tantrum and give the baby-incinerators the dough they want.

Adopt-a-Soul-in-Purgatory Project!

2011-06-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine a greater joy -- outside of meeting God, naturally -- than to meet someone you've "sponsored" to Heaven...in Heaven?

We all know that there are super organizations -- PLAN comes to mind, but there are many others -- who give us the opportunity to "adopt" a child, or adult, and monetarily, and with loving letters and gifts and so on, help this person on his or her journey through this life.

But what about eternal life???

The plan is simple. I'm assuming you pray daily for your deceased loved ones. This plan helps you pray someone you don't even know into Heaven!

Where to find them?

You can find them anywhere. An obvious source is a church. How many stained glass windows, for example, have you admired? Look closer. Chances are, there are those who've dedicated that window -- or statue, or font, or candle, or, for you priests, the sacred vessels -- to a deceased loved one. There you go -- that's your "sponsored soul." Or, if you're browsing through the paper, or reading the news on the Net, or overhear someone on the subway talk about a deceased friend or relative...need I go on? The fact is, a gazillion people die every day. This, then, is our fodder.

Yeah, I know, we're busy...and yet...

By asking the Holy Spirit to help you, you will come across somebody -- anybody -- who would greatly appreciate your prayers. And if you forget to pray for him or her or several? Not to worry! Jesus, through His Spirit, will surely remind you. I know. I've been blessed with these reminders for years, and I'm so grateful to Jesus for them that I could just kiss Him!

No kidding. I'll be reading a book, or blogging, or doing a crossword puzzle, or whatever and suddenly Mr. So-and-So and/or Ms. What's-Her-Name will jar my mind and I know, without a doubt, it's God reminding me of my commitment.

When this happens to you, thank the Lord!

And then offer a brief prayer for your adopted soul(s). I guarantee you, you -- and they -- will be abundantly rewarded!

God love you!

Whoa! Obama's Big Brother approach to physicians?

2011-06-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON — Alarmed by a shortage of primary care doctors, Obama administration officials are recruiting a team of “mystery shoppers” to pose as patients, call doctors’ offices and request appointments to see how difficult it is for people to get care when they need it.

Complete article here.

The government could survey consumers directly, but patients may not accurately recall how long it took to get an appointment, and their estimates could be colored by their satisfaction with the doctor, researchers said.

Let me understand this. The government could ask consumers directly, but, gee, they might've been satisfied with the service and therefore their opinions would be "colored?"

I understand that there's a shortage of physicians. What I don't understand is why hassling them is going to improve the problem.

Weird.

Pius XII and the Jews: for Catholics and others who THINK, rather than the so-called "thinking" catholics

2011-06-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

I'm linking this blog to a rather lengthy article. So, no offense, but all you "progressive catholic folk" may have trouble reading it. I ask to you to try. There really aren't any big words.

A key paragraph, regarding that old wheeze that Pius XII was "Hitler's Pope:"

Curiously, nearly everyone pressing this line today—from the ex-seminarians John Cornwell and Garry Wills to the ex-priest James Carroll—is a lapsed or angry Catholic. For Jewish leaders of a previous generation, the campaign against Pius XII would have been a source of shock. During and after the war, many well-known Jews—Albert Einstein, Golda Meir, Moshe Sharett, Rabbi Isaac Herzog, and innumerable others—publicly expressed their gratitude in Pius. In his 1967 book Three Popes and the Jews, the diplomat Pinchas Lapide (who served as Israeli consul in Milan and interviewed Italian Holocaust survivors) declared Pius XII “was instrumental in saving at least 700,000, but probably as many as 860,000 Jews from certain death at Nazi hands.”

Read the whole thing. And please...use the brains the Good Lord gave you, if you choose to do so.

Okay, so Keith Olbermann's not the brightest bulb in the socket, but about Galileo...

2011-06-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry, but I've heard—for years!—the unadulterated...

(...for you those of you who actually like shows like "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," the word is synonymous with easier words like "pure," and "utter," along with phrases like "out-and-out")...

...crap about the Catholic Church and Galileo.

Now personally? I never watched that Olbermann guy when he was on real TV and wouldn't dream of troubling myself to watch him on—what's it called?—oh yeah, "Current TV."

Neither, evidently, would the Catholic League's Bill Donohue, but somebody in his organization taped the silly show and got Bill's dander up. With good reason, I guess, although most "thinking" Catholics I know are hip to The Galileo Myth. And The Inquisition Myth. And so and and so on.

(I love using the adjective "thinking" in the correct way to describe Catholics, by the way..."progressives?" Do take note. And hey, folks, guess what? Research and libraries have been invented and there's even talk about something called The Internet coming along to make fact-checking a little easier.)

Anyhoo, since I'm quite fond of Bill Donohue, I'm posting his review here for your reading pleasure.

OLBERMANN'S IGNORANCE IS APPALLING

June 22, 2011

On last night's edition of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," the host claimed that Galileo was punished by the Catholic Church for "his belief that the earth orbited the sun and not the other way around." He also said that "the Church acknowledged errors had been committed in assessing Galileo's scientific beliefs. They did that in 1992."

Commenting on this is Catholic League president Bill Donohue:

It is not for nothing that Olbermann's new show is drawing such phenomenal advertisers like "Furniture Fix" and "Gyro Bowl." Indeed, whenever a show has to rely on junk products for revenue (the sure give-away is when they advertise that the buyer gets "two for the price of one"), it's an ominous sign. More than ominous is the intellectual acuity of Olbermann.

The fact is that the belief that the earth revolves around the sun was first broached by Copernicus, in 1543, and that was many moons before Galileo was even born. Copernicus not only did not get into trouble with the Catholic Church—he was a priest. Moreover, when Galileo first floated Copernicus' idea, he was bestowed with medals and gifts by Pope Urban VIII. What got him censured was his arrogance: Galileo argued that his hypothesis was a scientific fact, something which even the scientific community of his day scoffed at. It is instructive that Father Roger Boscovich didn't get into hot water with the Church at the time, and yet he also explored Copernican ideas.

It is false to say that in 1992 the Catholic Church acknowledged errors in dealing with Galileo. That happened in 1741 when Pope Benedict XIV granted an imprimatur to the first edition of the completed works of Galileo. What happened in 1992 was the release of a Pontifical Academy report on the controversy.

If Olbermann were simply wrong, that would be one thing. But it was his snide delivery that was really offensive. Glad we taped his new show—we knew it wouldn't be long before he threw a low-blow at the Catholic Church.

Contact the executive producer, David Sarosi: countdown@current.com

Ow! My eye! (on Matthew 7:1-5)

2011-06-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

When I read today's Gospel this morning (Matthew 7:1-5) my first thought was:

Gee! This is EXACTLY what so-and-so, and Madame X, and Mister Z, and What's-His-Name should read...sheesh, they're always judging everybody!

When I heard it at Mass today, I found myself narrowing my focus on Just Whom Exactly I would point this passage out to.

While the priest read on—it's a short passage, which outta give you an idea of how fast my mind was working—I'd made a mental list of folks to contact, which included, but was not limited to:

My Husband (he's always correcting me!)
Some of My Fellow Bloggers (always with the criticisms, sheesh!)
Certain Clients (gee, with what they're paying me, do they expect perfection?)
Many Fellow Parishioners
My Neighbors (okay, okay, we'll get to mowing the bleeping lawn!)
My Own Blog Commenters (especially that guy "Edward" who criticized my profession in my blog on Father Unni...wait, though, parenthetical comment coming up!)

(Edward wrote in the comments box, with tongue no doubt firmly planted in cheek:

Father John,

Please stop celebrating Mass with those in the advertising industry. It is an industry that functions by manipulating your flock into thinking they have needs not met by Jesus and the Church. It is because of the advertising industry that people feel it is more important to consumed material goods than to attend Mass.

We, of course, pray for people like Kelly and understand why she may act upon her economic needs but that is no excuse for doing so. Surely the Church can not be put in position of endorsing the advertising industry by giving communion to those who do such things.

I gotta tell ya, this post cracked me up. It's true...I'm in advertising and spend a great deal of time trying to convince others to spend their hard earned money on things they probably don't need.)

A N Y W A Y...

After the Gospel was proclaimed, the priest—to my utter astonishment—said:

This Gospel tends to make many people I know want to grab their phones and/or send an email or in some way tell people how lousy they are because they judge others.

Naturally, I was flabbergasted. At first. And then—I couldn't help it, honest!—had to muffle my laughter. At myself.

I judge, you judge, all God's children judge.

The point is...we're not supposed to. Yes, it's a spiritual work of mercy to gently, and with much love, try to correct wrongs. But that's a far cry from judging people.

Judging people—in the words of our President—is above our pay grade. (And there I go again!)

Folks, pray for me. Continue to correct me, if I'm wrong. And try very hard not to judge me...and you know what? I'm going to try very hard to do the same.

I have no choice, really. See, I've got this plank in my eye that keeps me from seeing clearly. And only God's grace—and my genuine contrition—will remove it.

Father Z on Father Corapi and our times...can't say any more than that

2011-06-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

Folks, it's not that bad! :-)

2011-06-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

[sigh]...You could almost here it through the computer. Still another person—embarrassingly enough, probably my age or thereabouts—on Facebook, wondering "What Was Wrong With This Generation?!?!?!?"

Folks, relax. Really! People have been asking this question, I'll wager, since Eve asked Adam if Cain has "issues," sheesh.

There's nothing more Wrong With This Generation than there has been since you were a kid, since your parents were kids, since your grandparents were kids, and if you don't believe me, I've asked the late, great Mr. Paul Lynde (may the Lord welcome him into His arms) to repeat the words he mourned in the 1963 hit, "Bye Bye Birdie." I coulda uploaded a video but you know what? I want you to sing along and laugh out loud. Mr. Lynde, if you please:

Kids! I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!
Kids! Who can understand anything they say?
Kids! They're disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers. (And while we're on the subject)

Kids! You can talk till your face is blue!
Kids! But they still do just what they want to do!

[plaintively]
Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way?
Oh what's the matter with kids today?

[now stare into the camera, or your computer, and sniffle]
Kids! I've tried to raise them the best I could. Kids. Kids!

Laughing, singing, dancing, morons! (And while we're on the subject)

Kids! They are just impossible to control!
Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock 'n roll!
Why can't they dance like we did,
What's wrong with Sammy Kaye? [uh...who's Sammy Kaye? The name sounds sorta familiar]

Oh, WHAT'S the matter with kids today?

Ladies and gentlemen of River City—whoops, wrong musical, sorry! Anyway, folks, I've seen teens and twenty-somethings acting like jerks, sure...but not as jerky as I was at their age. More to the point, I've seen this generation act, talk, walk, pray, sing, dance, enjoy life, and love God with an enthusiasm that makes me want to...well, sing!

Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way?

Because they're human beings...and God loves 'em! You love 'em too, okay? Thanks!

Archdiocese of Boston cancels "gay Mass" at Saint Cecila

2011-06-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

Boston Globe story here.

Please, Father Unni. An open letter to Father John Unni, Pastor, Saint Cecilia, Boston

2011-06-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

+JMJ+

Saint Ephrem

Father John J. Unni, Pastor
Saint Cecilia Parish
Boston, Massachusetts

Dear Father Unni,

In reading your parish bulletin of June 5, 2011, I was struck by the prayerful vibrancy of your parish. Please be assured that your parishioners, particularly the ill and deceased for whom you have asked prayers, as well as yourself, are remembered in my daily conversations with Our Lord.

Too, one cannot help but be inspired by, and grateful for, the active, Christ-like activities of so many of your parishioners. And, of course, the progress your parish has made in your renovations is nothing short of amazing, particularly given these difficult economic times.

It is, I know, not usually up to the sheep to counsel the shepherd. Yet I fear I cannot remain silent at a disturbing notice I read in your latest bulletin:

Liturgy to Commemorate Boston Pride 2011

The Rainbow Ministry of Saint Cecilia Parish invites all friends and supporters of the LGBT community to a Mass in celebration of Boston’s Pride Month. The liturgy will take place on Sunday evening, June 19, at six o’clock, with a reception following. The theme of the liturgy, “All Are Welcome,” honors Christ’s message of hope and salvation to all people. We will also celebrate the diverse community that finds its home at Saint Cecilia and acknowledge, in a special way, the generous and warm welcome extended to the members of the Jesuit Urban Center in 2007. The Mass will be celebrated by Father John Unni and concelebrated by several of the priests who faithfully ministered at the Jesuit Urban Center for so many years. Please plan to attend this special liturgy and support the diversity that makes Saint Cecilia such a special place.

To put it in the only way I know how: What the BLEEP are you DOING???

Forgive my emotional response, but in this case I believe it is called for. Because you see, dear Father Unni, I truly believe that you are sincere in your desire to be what is called "inclusive"—and I admire that tremendously.

Only you're going about it the wrong way.

Perhaps you do not quite see it this way, but this is the way it is: in trying to be "inclusive" to your parishioners—to say nothing of others who might be attracted to the message you are sending out—you are, in fact, abetting the exclusion of your flock from the Catholic Church.

Surely you are well versed in Church teachings. We, as one Body in Christ, embrace all, of course. We do not, under any circumstances, condemn those who, for whatever reason, are sexually attracted to those of the same gender. Indeed, we pray for them, and offer whatever support we can. The apostolate Courage comes immediately to mind, but there are many other resources...including loving pastors.

I beg you, Father Unni, please do not use—I might say abuse—the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to "celebrate" what is clearly contrary to the teachings of the Church as handing down to us by the Divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

I understand that there is a movement afoot, calling upon people to protest this Mass to Cardinal O'Malley. I pray that this not happen, which is why this is an open letter. I pray that it not be necessary. I pray, above all, that you reconsider your plans and turn your enthusiasm, instead, toward saving the people entrusted to you...and to recognize what the word "inclusion" really means.

May The Risen Lord continue to bless you, and may we all benefit from the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ,

Kelly Thatcher

This outta make "mainline Protestants" happy...

2011-05-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

DURHAM, N.C. — For decades, mainline Protestants have been beset by bad news: declining numbers, aging membership, waning cultural influence. A new study from Duke University Medical Center, however, gives these Protestants one reason for cheer: they seem to have larger brains than born-again Christians, Roman Catholics and the religiously unaffiliated.

As a Roman Catholic, you'll have to forgive this pea-brained question: what's a "Mainline Protestant?"

Celebrate the anniversary of my Baptism with me!

2011-05-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

By the grace of God, I'm celebrating with gratitude my Baptism into the Catholic Church, and wish to renew the vows made by my parents and godparents when I was a baby. Join me if you'd like to!

I reject Satan, and all his works, and all his empty promises.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

Amen and alleluia!

Osama bin Laden: must he have been murdered?

2011-05-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

Like, I hope, many people, my sister was quietly appalled at the blatant rejoicing of a death of a human being. On her Facebook page she wrote:

I'm trying to figure out the morality of this Bin Laden assassination. Although I don't think it's wrong, but indeed right and just, I don't think the death of another human being should be celebrated. For sure not in a manner reminiscent of New Year's Eve or some team championship.

I gave her post the old FB "thumbs up" and commented that it was well put. And it is well put.

But I need to go further.

I need to ask: was it necessary to kill this man, in the manner which, according to reports, he was killed?

To understand my question, you need to understand my perspective on all human life, on all creation. All creation is, or once was, good, created by a God who doesn't deal in creating crap.

You also need to understand that, from a Christian perspective, it is the duty of all to insure that all souls -- indeed, ultimately all bodies united with their souls -- end up in Heaven with the God who loved them into being.

When the news broke of the assassination, I obeyed without questioning the impulse -- or was it the prompting of the Holy Spirit? -- to pray for the man's immortal soul...to beg for mercy on him.

What followed -- what assaulted all of my senses -- was an eerie chorus of media-covered celebration. Celebration of a man's death.

I can, I believe, understand the all-too-human instinct to celebrate the end, please God, of the activities of a man driven to terrorist, terrifying, unholy acts.

But what I can't understand? The usurpation of a right belonging only to God: condemnation to Hell.

"Rot in Hell" was the headline blazing the New York Post. "Hell has a new citizen" wrote at least one Catholic priest on Facebook. It didn't end...it hasn't ended, although I hope it does soon.

"I disapprove," said Agatha Christie's famous detective Hercule Poirot, "of murder." I do too, and not just because "the Church says so" but because it robs a beloved-by-God soul of any chance repent for past sins.

And while I know nothing about the waging of war, the tactics of the battalion, I still have to ask: wasn't it at all possible to capture Osama bin Laden, rather than destroy him? To give him every opportunity available to save his soul?

Of course, despite what the New York Post and others who have presumed -- without any right to do so -- it may well be that his soul was saved, hard as this may be for you to believe.

I hope so. And I plan to continue to pray so. And to pray that in the future, we give our fellow human beings the basic right to repentance, and everlasting life.

Pray for us, Blessed Papa!

2011-05-03T18:13:00.001-07:00

MA Catholic Bishops: take "Maria Talks" site down!

2011-04-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

I realize the bishops are busy, especially on the heels of the Easter Octave and the beatification ceremonies in Rome...still -- it's about time! Thank you.

Mass. Catholic Bishops Target Sex Ed Website

Mr. Patrick, take this site down!

2011-04-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

About mariatalks.com
AIDS Action Committee (AAC) developed this website with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).

Which means, if you live in Massachusetts, you're paying for it. You're paying for stuff like this.

Alleluia!

2011-04-24T11:50:00.001-07:00

The strife is o'er, the battle won! Happy Easter to you!

Massachusetts state-funded web site steers teens toward abortion

2011-04-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

A state-funded sex education Web site that tells teens an abortion is “much easier than it sounds” has drawn fire from outraged pro-lifers who say mariatalks.com is glossing over ugly truths, steering teens toward the controversial procedure and counseling them how to keep mom and dad in the dark.

“The commonwealth is using taxpayer money to tell kids how to get a secret abortion, and that’s wrong,” said Linda Thayer, a former Boston schoolteacher who is vice president for educational affairs of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, which this week took aim at the site.

“This is a misuse of state funds, especially for parents who are taxpayers,” said Thayer, who also blasted the Web site for “deception by omission” for describing abortion simply as “when the contents of the womb (uterus) are removed.”

More here.

This site, which I'm paying for, should be dismantled.

Scotty (Brown), they hardly knew ye...

2011-04-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

From the March 9 2011 Mass Citizens for Life blog:

Senator Brown voted for the pro-life House version and against the anti-life Senate version. The votes were mostly along party lines, but some Republicans voted against us.
Please call in your thanks immediately! (202) 224-4543

On today's vote on defunding Planned Parenthood:

Five Republican Senators voted not to defund Planned Parenthood. Scott Brown (MA), Susan Collins (ME), Mark Kirk (IL), Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Olympia Snowe (ME).

Should I still breathlessly call in my thanks? Sheesh.

Welome back, Norma Jean Coon!

2011-04-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

Formally, I relinquish all connection to the program of Roman Catholic Women Priests and I disclaim the alleged ordination publicly with apologies to those whose lives I have offended or scandalized by my actions. I ask God's blessings upon each of these folks and their families.

Read her complete statement here. May God bless you, Dr. Coon!

And under the strange but true category, we have...

2011-03-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

President Obama finally and quietly accepted his “transparency” award from the open government community this week — in a closed, undisclosed meeting at the White House on Monday.

Remember: this is a secret!

How much did her "Yes" cost Mary?

2011-03-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

Today, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, I reflected on the Seven Sorrows of Mary as I tromped around the city. I didn't get much further than the first three -- the ones that have to do with Jesus as a child: Simeon's Prophecy, The Flight Into Egypt, and The Loss of Jesus.

The Flight Into Egypt stopped me

It was sad -- I was saddened -- to think about how Mary felt, far, far, away from home, in a strange land. I pictured her leaning against, I don't know, a pyramid maybe, lovingly watching her young Boy playing in the sand, thinking about how her parents -- Anne and Joachim -- were missing these terrific years of their Grandchild's growth. A sad moment, sure, but imagine the excruciating pain she felt when she considered the reason they were in Egypt in the first place...to escape the fate of all of those babies slaughtered. I couldn't get the vision out of my mind.

Then, the Mass!

And what a joyful celebration it was, at Saint Francis Chapel. The opportunity to kneel at those profound words of the Creed. The Roman Canon. The exquisite prayers. The Eucharist. It was, it remains, a joyful thing to know that Mary said "yes."

Followed by the Rosary

It being Friday, we prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries, which complemented (or so I thought) my earlier meditation on the Seven Sorrows. Only...I wept.

And then, the Stations of the Cross

With, of course, the "Stabat Mater." You know, I think I can sing the entire "Stabat Mater" and cry, even without praying the Stations. In any case, I kept wondering: what did this cost you, Mother, this "yes" of yours?

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done to me according to thy word!"

Of course, Mary knew the Lord's Prayer long before Jesus taught it to us -- at least, the gist of it. And, exhausted but somehow exhilarated, I walked home thinking that, while, indeed, her "yes" cost her plenty, her "yes" also glorified this woman: this woman who so eagerly cooperated in our salvation.

"Full of Grace"

The term means "without sin." This Lady, the Immaculate Conception, wasn't just conceived "full of grace"...she remained so, despite, as the world would say, "against all odds." How much did her "yes" cost Mary? An awful lot, while in this vale of tears. But -- rejoice! This woman, assumed into Heaven, body and soul, is now the Queen of All Creation. Which might make you feel pretty good, until you consider this:

She's Your Mother and She Loves You!

Thank you, my most Blessed Mother. Thank you for your "yes."

Christ in Me (The Deer's Cry: Saint Patrick's Breastplate)

2011-03-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

I passed by many an overflowing pub today as I walked the sunny streets of Boston, and that was fine, but what was finer still was when, after resuming my walk after Mass, a gentleman smiled at me and wished me "God's blessings on this holy day."

May I wish you the same? I do! And a glorious Lent as well!

A Timely Public Service Announcement:

2011-03-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

Hey!

Set your clocks and watches ahead 1 hour right NOW!!!

Don't wait! Do it NOW! Otherwise you'll FORGET and THEN you'll be LATE tomorrow!!! You've been warned, so do it NOW!

This has been a public service announcement from the Lady in the Pew.

You're welcome! :-)

NPR: "non-bigoted, non-racist, straightforward point of view"...uh huh

2011-03-08T17:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm thinking that by the time you view this, NPR will issue some apology. And yes, I know it was a sting job. And no, I don't want to debate the morality of sting jobs. I'd be happy, however, to debate the question of why I outta pay for a station that calls me and people who believe as I do...stupid. :-)

Clueless in Seattle University

2011-03-07T17:27:00.000-08:00

The oldest and largest of Seattle University's schools and colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences builds upon and continues the traditions of Catholic and Jesuit higher education and offers a wide variety of degree programs in the humanities, social sciences, professions, and the arts.

Traditions of Catholic higher education?

How does that jive with internships at, for example, Planned Parenthood?

Sheesh.

Pro-life Jane Russell, RIP

2011-03-03T17:36:00.000-08:00

Her favorite book is the Bible. She reads a passage from it every day.
A longtime pro-life activist, she opposes the use of abortion in any circumstance including rape or incest.

Read more about the lady -- and I mean lady -- here.

Let's not forget the souls in Purgatory!

2011-03-03T17:26:00.000-08:00

At Mass today, the intention was for the souls in Purgatory. I love when people do that!

Here's Kathy Schiffer's take on this: "Purgatory and Presumption: Please Don't Forget to Pray for Me!

RIP, Dr. Bernard Nathanson: "The Silent Scream"

2011-02-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

May your hope that the technology of ultra sound will soften hearts toward unborn children come to pass. Though Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Welcome, Anthony Ignatius Bettinelli!

2011-02-21T10:51:00.000-08:00

Born today!

House votes to defund PP

2011-02-18T17:33:00.000-08:00

“I long for the day that Roe v. Wade is sent to the ash heap of history, when we move past the broken hearts and broken lives of the past 38 years, but as this debate rages on…let us at least respect the overwhelming consensus of the American people and end taxpayer support for abortion providers once and for all."

Mike Pence's Comments Supporting Planned Parenthood De-Funding | LifeNews.com

Wow! Good pro-life news!

2011-02-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

Democrats Fail to Challenge Pro-Life Budget Provisions on Abortion | LifeNews.com

CBS (finally) covers PP sting...anybody else?

2011-02-09T18:11:00.000-08:00

Read about it here.

Planned Parenthood: AGAIN aiding and abetting pimps, this time in the Bronx

2011-02-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

February 8, 2011 – When told by a man posing as a pimp that he needs help with girls he manages as young as 14-15 years old, a Bronx New York Planned Parenthood Staffer is unfazed and offers to go one better: “We see people as young as 13….everything is totally confidential.”

Here's the video.

Hey, I need your help!

2011-02-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

In order to use our business Facebook page more effectively, we need people to "like" us. If you'd go here and "like" Alden & Clark Graphic design, Alden and I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

2011-02-06T14:27:00.000-08:00

Another Planned Parenthood Sting: Aiding Pimp's Underage Sex Ring

2011-02-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

In the latest video by Lila Rose and her group, Live Action, we see a New Jersey Planned Parenthood manager coaching a man and woman posing as sex traffickers on securing secret abortions, STD testing, and contraception for their female underage sex slaves. The "helpful" counselor even advises them to make their operation "look as legit as possible."

Saints and their statues

2011-01-29T16:59:00.000-08:00

I understand that the high priests of the Old Testament were prototypes of the only High Priest, Jesus Christ.

But what I didn't understand until recently is simply this: the Holy of Holies -- in Judaism -- to say nothing of our Catholic Churches -- are and were prototypes of Heaven!

When the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies yearly, on the Day of Atonement, he did indeed offer sacrifice for, not just the sins of the people but for his own sins. Of course, our High Priest, Jesus Christ, offered only one sacrifice for all...it was sufficient.

But did you know that, within the sanctuary of the Temple, there were images of angels? Not images of Moses, nor David, nor Abraham -- only angels.

Why is that?

Because regardless of the piety of the high priests and the people, at the time before Christ there were no humans in Heaven. Only angels.

After Christ offered His one sacrifice for all, the gates of Heaven were smashed open and people like you and me were, once again, offered admittance into the Kingdom.

And so our churches -- being, as I said, prototypes of Heaven (even more so now since the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ reposes there) have good reason to display images of human beings within them.

At long last, man -- created in the image of God our Creator -- has been welcomed in Heaven. No longer is this Kingdom the exclusive realm of angels, as it was in the days of our ancestors. Now there is an open invitation to mankind to live there.

As the saints do. As I hope you and I will some day.

And that's why the images of human beings complement those of the angels.

Just in case you were wondering. :-)

"God's 38th Anniversary Present to Roe v Wade" by Carol McKinley

2011-01-23T17:29:00.000-08:00

It took me several days to get my spirituality tucked in enough to read the sinister descriptions of Gosnell's infant extermination facility. The Grand Jury report, with photos of the macabre crimes against women and children is HERE. It's worse than I expected. Hundreds of children were delivered alive and then murdered. Their bodies and parts were strewn about in the blood and filth.

There's a picture of a 30 week old baby with a gaping hole in his neck where the scissors was inserted to sever his spinal cord. Though SCOTUS upheld the partial birth abortion ban in 2007, there are various ways of killing an unborn child in this country. And the findings at the Gosnell abortion clinic is proof positive that the partial birth abortion ban is as good as the morals and ethics of doctors who make a living out of killing children.

It's as effective as the law against stealing in a room filled with thieves.

Read the rest here.

David Alexander on Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr (1915 - 2011)

2011-01-21T17:47:00.000-08:00

January 21: "Ask Them What They Mean by `Choice' Blog Day"

2011-01-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm starting a day early. NARAL has chosen to "celebrate" what is arguably the most infamous day in United States history -- the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade -- with a "Blog for Choice Day." So I'm "choosing" -- as our countless other bloggers -- to ask "pro-choicers" a simple question:

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "CHOICE?"

Jill Stanek, who sparked the counter-campaign, writes:

When NARAL announced a “Blog for Choice Day,” to be held this Friday, January 21, my blood boiled.

How dare they celebrate the upcoming 38th anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision with their ambiguous claptrap.

Over 50 million babies have been killed in America since that terrible day, most certainly nothing to cheer about, unless you’re in Rome at the Colosseum perhaps.

So pro-life bloggers are banding together to sponsor a counter “Ask Them What They Mean When They Say ‘Choice’ Blog Day” on the same day, January 21.

We’re also encouraging all pro-lifers on Twitter and Facebook to participate.

The idea is simple. Any time any of us reads pro-aborts spouting their obscure “choice” rhetoric on a blog, website, Facebook, or Twitter, we call them out on it. We ask them to explain what the “choice” is.

Is it to eat carrots rather than broccoli? To wear red instead of blue? No, of course “choice” is code for killing babies. What’s their problem with the A-word?

Please join us. Thank you!

The Abortion Murders - HUMAN EVENTS

2011-01-19T12:13:00.000-08:00

From John Hayward at Human Events:

Fox News reports a horrifying case in Philadelphia, about a doctor who murdered “minorities, immigrants, and the poor” with scissors for profit. He’s been doing it for thirty years, and raked in millions of dollars. His lair is described by authorities as a “house of horrors,” filled with “bags and bottles” holding the corpses of his victims. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams says “there were jars, lining shelves, with severed feet he kept for no medical purpose.”

Incredibly, the authorities ignored numerous complaints about this doctor’s bizarre behavior and criminal medical practices. His clinic hasn’t been inspected since 1993, despite ten malpractice suits filed against him, one of which included a fatality.

Sounds like an astonishing stop-the-presses story, right? One detail I left out: Dr. Kermit Gosnell is an abortion doctor. He’s charged with eight counts of murder – one mother and seven illegally “aborted” live babies.

Continue reading here.

Fred Foy: a legend, but also a friend.

2011-01-18T17:39:00.000-08:00

Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of my good friend Fred Foy, and remember his lovely wife Fran and their family in your prayers. Thank you!

Announcing the “Ask Them What They Mean By ‘Choice’ Blog Day,” January 21!

2011-01-18T17:24:00.000-08:00

Announcing the “Ask Them What They Mean By ‘Choice’ Blog Day,” January 21!

She can count the Pew Lady in!

John Paul II: Beatification set for May 1

2011-01-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

Which is Divine Mercy Sunday, appropriately enough. Here's the story.

PRI reviews "unPlanned" by Abby Johnson

2011-01-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

She had joined Planned Parenthood as a college student because she had been led to believe that the organization was dedicated to helping women in crisis. She believed them when they told her that they wanted to make abortion rare. She repeated their lies when she told naive young women that what was growing in their wombs was not a baby, but just a fetus, little more than a clump of cells, or a ball of tissue.

But as she went from being a volunteer to full-time employee, she learned that a key goal of the organization was to make as much money as possible by performing as many abortions as possible. Instead of helping to make abortions rare, as she had believed, she realized to her dismay that she was helping to make them more common.

Read the whole review here.

Get the book here!

unPLANNED ::

2011-01-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

unPLANNED ::

Nancy Pelosi Blames George W. Bush For 2010 Election Losses

2011-01-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

Nancy Pelosi Blames George W. Bush For 2010 Election Losses

:-)

"Here is the grain" -- Saint Andre Bessette

2011-01-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

His name was Alfred Bessette. He was born on August 9, in 1845, and was baptized on condition the very next day, for he was so weak at his birth his parents feared for his life.

Read the story of this remarkable man who was canonized just last October. May Saint Andre Bessette intercede for you and for me!

P.S. The website of Saint Joseph's Oratory is definitely worth the trip!

Blessed be the Holy Name of Jesus!

2011-01-03T18:06:00.000-08:00

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary Most Holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God, in His angels and in His saints.

Dave Barry cracks me up...

2011-01-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

...and his 2010 year in review is a riot. Enjoy!

An Epiphany Card for You!

2010-12-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

For many years now, I've eschewed sending Christmas cards, opting instead for Epiphany greetings. For one thing, it frees me up from some o' the pre-Christmas activities, allowing me to concentrate on Advent.

Want one?

Just drop me a line using the "email Kelly" link (under the "About Kelly" stuff) and receive a .PDF file, ready to print. The card features a color image of the Magi's visit to the Holy Family on the cover, with the Antiphon for the Canticle of Mary sung at Vespers on The Feast of the Epiphany. When folded, it fits into a standard invitation-sized envelope (4-3/8 x 5-3/4). Even if you've send traditional cards, I find these make wonderful thank you notes for gifts received.

Designed by my husband (and business partner), it's my Christmas gift to you.

Once again, Xerox helps us thank our troops!

2010-12-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.

The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.

It only takes a minute, but has got to mean a whole lot. Thanks for saying thanks!

Why is Obama the lead player in the Roxbury Christmas display?

2010-12-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

I wish I could take a picture of the display at Warren Street and Walnut Avenue in Roxbury, Massachusetts...but I can't. At least at night, and that's when it counts, because the Christmas display is all lit up then. The star? Not Jesus. Not even Santa. Nope. In letters a gillion feet high blaze the words:

OBAMA IN THE HOUSE

No kidding.

I mean, there's a small creche, the words "Peace on Earth," a few reindeer, you know, the usual. But OBAMA IN THE HOUSE trumps the whole display. Why? What the bleep does the president have to do with Christmas?

'Course it was a bit different last year. Equally bewildering, but different. Last Christmas, we were treated to a manger scene but not topped with a star...no, topping the stable, the Infant Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and, if I recall, a few shepherds, was the brightly shining word:

OBAMA

What gives, I wonder?

Ho-ho no: Hanukkah’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas - The Boston Globe

2010-12-06T17:43:00.000-08:00

Alison Lobron, in yesterday's Boston Globe Magazine, offers an amazingly sensible look at what "inclusion" can mean during the "holidays," from a Jewish perspective. Read the whole thing if you can, but here's the money quote:

The problem is, the more we pretend the two holidays are interchangeable, the more the meaning drains out of both. Hanukkah, which commemorates an ancient military victory, is supposed to symbolize Jewish resistance to assimilation, but it is now often treated as Christmas in blue. And Christians see their symbols and traditions repackaged as a generic holiday. What we’re left with is the lowest common denominator: shopping.

Amen.

Joy Battista: My Hope Pregnancy

2010-12-06T17:33:00.000-08:00

A remarkable pro-life lady describes her "molar pregnancy" -- and her inspiring hope.

Joe Scheidler's Home Vandalized by Anti-Life Activists

2010-12-02T17:40:00.000-08:00

Here's something you probably won't read in your local paper.

You can read the story linked above, and you might want to check out Jill Stanek's more personalized post, complete with pictures.

(Before you ask, the reference in the note accompanying the brick to "Queen Anne's Lace" refers to the apparent use of the weed as a contraceptive. Or something like that.)

Pope Changes Catholic Faith Completely!

2010-11-24T11:39:00.000-08:00

You gotta love Mark Shea!

ROME -- In a startling change to the Catholic Faith, Pope Benedict XVI announced today that tossing people down elevator shafts could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility "in the intention of reducing the risk of having your own son electrocuted to death before your very eyes."
The Imperial Mainstream Media Center has taken this as a signal that the Church intends to canonize Darth Vader for his saintly courage in tossing Emperor Palpatine down an elevator shaft as the latter was torturing Darth Vader's son to death with huge bolts of electric Force energy.

Read the whole thing, and enjoy! (You might want to share this with your friends who still don't get it.)

The Lady in the Pew

Celebrating 50 million dead babies. Celebrating???

Obama accelerates war on humanity

Ron Wine, father of Colleen Hammond, R.I.P.

January 23: A Day of Prayer and Penance for Life

"Ten Years Later?" Uh...I don't think so

Free Epiphany Card!

Thank you Dr. Horatio Robinson Storer

Just in case you forgot? :-) My parish is on the ball!

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Me? A Christmas Gift? Okay, I'll tell you what I'd like...

We make great websites!

Bring a Catholic back: a hopeful help to the Archdiocese of Boston's "streamlining" plans

Happy New Year!

Exploding religious myths...and correcting the unthinking

About that time change thing?

All Saints Day. And Father Dennis Brown, OMV

New Roman Missal: Concluding Rites

New Roman Missal: The Liturgy of the Eucharist

New Roman Missal: Gloria and Credo

New Roman Missal: The Penitential Act

The New Roman Missal: Starting with the Greeting

October 16 homily by Deacon Greg Kandra...worth the read!

Dear Lord, did I answer this at all correctly? I trust in You!

Can we can the "first names" of priests and religious? Please?

"It is right and just!" Why are too many Boston priests hesitating over the new Roman Missal?

Around the blogs...

"Tragedy" vs. "Attacks"

This weekend's challenge: forgiveness

About "war crimes"

I love when Father Bob Lowrey celebrates Mass because I forget who he is when he does so

Archbishop Dolan really DID trump "60 Minutes"

A dark night of the soul...why me? Why *not* me?

What Messiah are *we* waiting for?

Facebook welcomes unborn babies to your families!

Around the blogs...

"Maria talking about abortion" and her make-believe "Aunt Lucia": Latinos, you're being used.

Medjugorje: let's be careful out there

Archbishop Chaput: "Our Choices Shape Our Eternity"

Father Roger Landry: Toward the true pastoral care of those with same-sex attractions

Saint Cecilia's Parish...and how Father Unni (inadvertently perhaps) got me thinking

My cousin Steve Hardoin on Casey Anthony

Evangelization: how do we do it?

Planned Parenthood Lies. Again. Does anybody actually believe their you-know-what?

Adopt-a-Soul-in-Purgatory Project!

Whoa! Obama's Big Brother approach to physicians?

Pius XII and the Jews: for Catholics and others who THINK, rather than the so-called "thinking" catholics

Okay, so Keith Olbermann's not the brightest bulb in the socket, but about Galileo...

Ow! My eye! (on Matthew 7:1-5)

Father Z on Father Corapi and our times...can't say any more than that

Folks, it's not that bad! :-)

Archdiocese of Boston cancels "gay Mass" at Saint Cecila

Please, Father Unni. An open letter to Father John Unni, Pastor, Saint Cecilia, Boston

This outta make "mainline Protestants" happy...

Celebrate the anniversary of my Baptism with me!

Osama bin Laden: must he have been murdered?

Pray for us, Blessed Papa!

MA Catholic Bishops: take "Maria Talks" site down!

Mr. Patrick, take this site down!

About mariatalks.com

Alleluia!

Massachusetts state-funded web site steers teens toward abortion

Scotty (Brown), they hardly knew ye...

Welome back, Norma Jean Coon!

And under the strange but true category, we have...

How much did her "Yes" cost Mary?

Christ in Me (The Deer's Cry: Saint Patrick's Breastplate)

A Timely Public Service Announcement:

NPR: "non-bigoted, non-racist, straightforward point of view"...uh huh

Clueless in Seattle University

Pro-life Jane Russell, RIP

Let's not forget the souls in Purgatory!

RIP, Dr. Bernard Nathanson: "The Silent Scream"

Welcome, Anthony Ignatius Bettinelli!

House votes to defund PP

Wow! Good pro-life news!

CBS (finally) covers PP sting...anybody else?

Planned Parenthood: AGAIN aiding and abetting pimps, this time in the Bronx

Hey, I need your help!

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

A dark night of the soul...why me? Why not me?

What Messiah are we waiting for?