St. Albert the Great lector in a public snit over "anti-gay" amendment

In today's Patriot Ledger, St. Albert the Great parishioner Anne-Marie McCarthy huffs and puffs:

I was very upset with the reading of the archbishop’s letter concerning the anti-gay [sic] marriage proposal during Masses last weekend, and, as a lector at St. Albert the Great Parish, would have refused to read it from the altar.

Odd...I wouldn't have expected any lay person to read anything "from the altar." The lady might've meant "lectern" or "ambo." Still, would a lay lector be asked to read a letter from the Archbishop? Doubtful.

Of course, Saint Albert the Great parish has been in the news before. Its claim to infamy is throwing a hissy-fit over the parish's closing, and the loss of its former pastor, Father "We've Outgrown Hell" Ron Coyne, staging a "hey media look at us `sit-in'" for months, and abusing the Blessed Sacrament.

For all of this they were rewarded by the Archdiocese...the parish was allowed to remain open. The parishioners' response was to stamp its collective feet because they wanted their old pastor back.

Unless Ms. Anne-Marie-the-Lector-McCarthy is the exception, the parish, evidently, is still stamping its collective feet.

Somebody — like maybe the pastor, Rev. Laurence J. Borges — outta sit the irate lady down and explain the facts of life to her. Assuming, of course, she's finished taking her grand dame kudos for her "brave stance."

Source: The Patriot Ledger, Copyright 2005, October 11, 2005

Madonna infuriates religious leaders

In her video, "Like a Prayer," the born-and-raised Catholic entertainer is portrayed in a church where a statue of Saint Martin de Porres comes to life and kisses her passionately.

An album of her greatest hits is called "The Immaculate Collection."

Which she dedicated to "the Pope, my divine inspiration." The reference is not to the Holy Father, but to her interior designer brother Christopher, nicknamed "Pope."

But that's not what's causing the furor. See, her latest album includes a song dedicated to a 16th century Jewish mystic (Madonna converted to that branch of Judaism a few years ago) which some rabbis are calling a sacrilege.

Equality. INCLUSIVENESS. (All Walter, all the time)

Okay.

Let's just say, for a moment, that Father Walter Cuenin's exodus was prompted by:

Those Mean Spirited People Who Resented Walter's Disagreement of Church Teaching Like, For Example, Her treatment of The Poor, The Disenfranchised, The Poor Gay People, Et Cetera, Et Cetera, Et Cetera.

Fine. Then what do we make of this op-ed piece by Father Joseph O'Donnell which speaks of "Corbona"?

What is "Corbona?"
As far as I can tell, it comes from the Hebrew word "corbon." In the Hebrew, it means "a sacrifice to God."

Father O'Donnell explains the term further regarding the Archdiocese of Boston:

During the late 1970s I held the elected position of president of the Archdiocesan Priests Senate, an advisory body to Archbishops Cushing and Medeiros. At that time the issue of a salary and stipend adjustment was proposed. It had been the custom in every parish that the stipends and fees for weddings, funerals, baptisms, and Masses were placed in a common pot known as the ''corbona." At the end of the month the pot was divided among the priests of the parish. [my emphasis]

It was obvious that if one were assigned to a bustling parish, the monthly share, added to a basic salary, was much larger than if one were stationed in the inner city or a smaller suburban parish. It became a matter of equity and justice among a number of priests across the archdiocese. [again, my emphasis...it's my blog]

In other words, although they might not have realized it, the "inclusive, we love the poor" parish known as Our Lady Help of Christians were basically screwing priests in poorer parishes. Am I the only one who sees this irony?

And am I the only one who wonders how in the word Father Walter Cuenin -- a well known champion of The Poor -- missed this...uh..."technicality?"

Here's the article. Please. Tell me I'm all wet. I'd love to believe it!

And, somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout...

...but there is no joy in Boston --

'Cuz the Red Sox? They are out.

How to solve the priest shortage in the United States

Tony over at Catholic Pillow Fight addresses the problem. One option? Close more churches! He details how to get your church closed, so that the priest can be better utilized elsewhere...(like my parish!)

One of the tactics:

Complain if your priest talks about sin

What right does the priest have to judge you? (And how did he know you were committing adultery? He seemed to look right at you when he was giving his adultery homily. It must have been that blabbermouth Gladys.) You don't want to hear about sin, you want to feel good about church and your "friend" Jesus. This talk about abortion and stem cell research just puts a damper on the celebration. The mass is a celebration, isn't it?

Read the whole thing here.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

With the exception, of course, of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Rosary is probably the most powerful prayer we can offer.

Today we celebrate "Our Lady of the Rosary"...a feast given to us by Pope Saint Pius V 'way back in 1573. For centuries, the entire Rosary consisted of 150 recitations of the Ave Maria ("Hail, Mary"), in a series of 15 "decades." These decades were divided in 3 sets of "mysteries:"

The Joyful Mysteries, which reflect on the joyous occasions in Mary's life, and give us a glimpse into the otherwise "hidden life" of the Child Jesus;

The Sorrowful Mysteries, which allow us to meditate of the redemptive Passion of Our Lord and Savior;

The Glorious Mysteries, which are reflections on the events following the Victory of the Cross — from the Resurrection to the Coronation of Mary, as Queen of Heaven and all of God's creation.

In 2002, His Holiness John Paul II gave us 5 additional decades to the Rosary:

The Luminous Mysteries (or "The Mysteries of Light"). These allow us to more fully reflect on the public life of Jesus...from His baptism by John in the Jordan, to His institution of the Blessed Sacrament — His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine.

There are many good websites devoted to the Rosary. Here is one I hope you enjoy.

"Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us."

All Walter, all the time

Lynn, Massachusetts is about as far away from upscale Newton, Massachusetts as you can get, and I'm not speaking geographically here. The downtown area has been sadly neglected for years.

So, when the Archdiocese of Boston sinks about $24 million to create affordable housing, and to otherwise revitalize this neighborhood, what do reporters want to know?

At the dedication, O'Malley was peppered with questions about whether the forced ouster of the Rev. Walter Cuenin from Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton was related to the priest's outspoken views. The archdiocese said last week that Cuenin was asked to step down because of financial improprieties.

Poor people? Screw 'em. We want to know about Walter.

You can't kill Christ again.

Folks? If we take away the Eucharist, we might as well join our ol' buddy Lucifer in Hell.

Pray for these people:

We Are Church argued that the dogma of the transubstantiation-- the teaching that the bread and wine at Mass are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ-- is unacceptable to Protestants, and thus impedes ecumenical unity. The group decried traditional forms of Catholic piety, such as Eucharistic adoration and processions, as tending to make an "idol" of the Blessed Sacrament.

As an aside:

The group also denounced the exclusion of women from the Catholic priesthood, the bar on Communion for those who are divorced and remarried, and "monopoly" claimed by priests as sacramental ministers.

By the way...when you hear "Voice of the Faithful(sic)" think "We Are Church."

Oremus.

Hey, the Pro Life Walk was actually covered!

Not in the hard copy edition, but at least the online version of the Boston Globe covered the Walk for Life.

The hard copy edition was, understandably (?) too busy covering the Protest. Against the Resignation of Father Cuenin. A protest of which he was against.

Huh?

Oremus.

Saint Francis of Assisi!

As a frequent visitor to Boston's Saint Francis Chapel, I've developed a particular devotion to this man.

If you're a "Francis Fan" -- or just want to know more about this great saint -- this site is very cool.

Lord, make me a channel of Thy peace.

And speaking o' neighbors...

Good news!

Some enterprising folks called "Know Thy Neighbor" have created a wonderful opportunity to easily go public in your recognition of the difference between right and wrong.

All you have to do is sign a petition, asking for the right to VOTE on defining "Marriage" in Massachusetts.* That's it! "Know Thy Neighbor" will take it from there!

When you sign the petition, guess what? The good folk at "Know Thy Neighbor" will obligingly publish your name and address on its website! FREE!

How's that for service?

But wait...there's more!

Would you like to know who, in your very own town, has or has not signed the petition? No need to wander over to the attorney general's office and paw through documents...no need to even visit the AG's website and download endless files. No, indeed! Thanks to our neighborly "Know Thy Neighbor" friends, you can be notified by email when any of your neighbors signs the petition!

What can be easier? And remember...this service is FREE OF CHARGE!

So don't delay!

Visit the "Know Thy Neighbor" website today! Or write: info@knowthyneighbor.org.

"Know Thy Neighbor." Identifying witnesses to the truth...one signature at a time.

`````
The Fine Print

*Available only (at this point) to citizens of Massachusetts...sorry, you other 49! And yes, it's understood that the dictionary and history have already defined "marriage," but you see, this is Massachusetts, and we have some non-elected judges who sorta want to rewrite the dictionary, to say nothing of history, and so there you are.

Who is my neighbor?

Today's readings, and the sermon I heard today, gave yours truly quite a challenge.

In the first reading, old Jonah tries to run away from God. He didn't want the folks in Nineveh warned of their imminent destruction...he didn't like them. They weren't "his neighbors."

In the Gospel, the smarty pants lawyer couldn't bring himself to even utter the word "Samaritan" when asked by Jesus, after the "Good Samaritan" parable, to identify the true neighbor. He didn't like Samaritans. He hated Samaritans. They weren't "his neighbors."

Jesus probably learned a version of this prayer at His mother's knee: "I will love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength. And I will love my neighbor as myself."

I try to pray the same prayer daily. But who is my neighbor?

My family? Friends? People who agree with me? People who like me?

What about those who would do me harm? Who dislike me? (Yes, hard as it is to believe, there are some...)

Yesterday, after Mass, I stepped out of the church to find a few people with signs. Angry people. People who accused me and others of "spewing hate" because of our peculiar notion that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

Later, I walked with thousands of others on the Boston Common in support of the unborn. Predictably, we all had to pass through the "gauntlet" — people screaming the usual epithets ("keep your Rosaries off our ovaries," et al).

This afternoon, a bus driver got mad at me because I dropped my fare in the wrong slot, and later to top off my day, a telemarketer called me.

(Sheesh.)

Here's the thing.

Every person I described in this post is a person I am bound to love. It's that simple, albeit it's not that easy. (Especially in the case of the telemarketer!)

Who is my neighbor?

The answer is: who isn't?

Dom disarms The Boston Globe...brilliantly

Today's front page in The Boston Globe featured a made-up story. But, like so many made-up stories, a cursory reading of it can lure one into believing it to be truth.

Domenico Bettinelli is no cursory reader. In quite a remarkable piece, he not only exposes the untruths this representative of the Fourth Estate espouses...he disarms the representative completely.

What we have is the Boston Globe trying to make something out of nothing. Look at this criticism. They say that priests are being subject to an “unprecedented level of scrutiny.” And that is? “The archdiocese has recently begun conducting more regular and, in some cases, unscheduled financial audits of parishes.” You’re kidding! How dare the archdiocese, which has itself been beset by financial scandals, resolve to clean up its act and make that money donated to the Church is used properly. Horrors! The fiends!

Read, if you get the chance, both the Globe story (and when I say "story" I mean it in the second dictionary definition of the term) and Dom's critique.

Thanks.

Local priest and parishioners raise a bundle for poor

Passed along by a friend:

A Catholic priest in one of the poorest parishes in the region has succeeded in raising $900,000 through the sale of edgy T-shirts and one-on-one fund-raising as his parish endeavors to construct and operate a 365-day-a-year meal center to feed the hungry in Lawrence.

I'll link to the story in a sec, but just to clarify...the "edgy" T-shirts aren't what you might think. Father O'Brien and his parishioners sold T-shirts packaged in bottles with words like "hunger" and "addiction" on them to underscore the price of poverty.

Here ya go:

"Do little things with great love"

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

For Catholic parents who don't want their kids to be Catholic...

...we have some consoling words for when those pesky Catholic -- or even Christian -- friends and relatives have difficulties accepting this:

For interfaith couples who have chosen to raise their children within Judaism, problems with regard to not baptizing their children arise because traditions do not die easily. It would not be uncommon, for example, to have a relative, perhaps a grandmother or grandfather, who might be very upset that the baby is not baptized.

Got that? The problem is simply: "traditions do not die easily."

I mean, don't even consider the notion that, perhaps, grandma and/or grandpop might actually, sincerely, (albeit misguidedly) believe that Catholicism is the true faith, or that Jesus (Jesus? Who's that?) is the Messiah, or any of those charming but outmoded "traditions."

The main thing is that We All Get Along. Here. On Earth.

Yes, yes, I understand that the article was allegedly written to reassure folks that unbaptized children aren't necessarily forbidden Heaven.

Actually, I'm not worried about the kids, so much as the parents.

Along, of course, with the author of the piece.

Incidentally, did you catch the scathing, open letter by a minister and a rabbi to Archbishop Sean O'Malley?

Though we are outraged by the treatment of Father Cuenin, we offer our concerns as people of faith appealing to your conscience. Even as you have the power to remove a priest from his parish, you also have the power to reinstate Father Cuenin as pastor of Our Lady's Parish. Walter's integrity, common decency, love of God and humanity can help heal the wound inflicted by this action of the Archdiocese of Boston. Who will repair your reputation if this shameful act of vengeance is permitted to stand?

Talk about chutzpah.

Still, as outrageous as the "letter" is, it isn't really shocking. After all, what do the co-authors know about Catholic doctrine and Her hierarchical structure, other than what their Good Friend the Catholic Priest instructed them?

Kyrie Eleison.

Deep, cleansing breaths, people!

From the Newton (Massachusetts) Tab:

Hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of supporters of Rev. Walter Cuenin are expected to march this Sunday on Archbishop Sean O'Malley's residence at the Boston Chancery in protest to the removal of the popular pastor and archdiocesan critic.

Coupla problems here.

One -- duh -- the Archbishop' residence isn't at the Chancery. It's at the rectory of my parish church in the South End...at the opposite end of town. Good planning, folks!

Two? This Sunday, if history repeats itself, thousands will march all right...for several miles. In support of the right of babies to be born. The Cueninites supporters' timing couldn't be worse.

Three: Father Cuenin doesn't want, or doesn't seem to want, all the hoopla, thank-you-very-much. From the same paper (I'm nothing if not lazy in collecting links):

"Nothing is going to change the decision," Cuenin said afterward. He said he was pleased with his parishioners' support, but he did not want to encourage protest against the archdiocese.
(Quick question: if Father Cuenin has so much influence over his former parishioners, why are they disregarding his wishes now? Answer: "Because we don't like them!" To further the point: if Father Cuenin preached Catholic orthodoxy, would he be as popular? Answer: Doubtful.)

Did somebody mention that old nag...the "influential" group once known as "Voice of the Faithful(sic)"?

From the head honcho, Jim Post, in an email letter to anybody who happens to subscribe seriously to such tripe (which is not to dis my source...she's on the list, as most people are, for laughs and to pass the stuff on to lazier people like me):

In Boston, Fr. Walter Cuenin, an outspoken and much-admired priest, has been dismissed as pastor of a parish on trumped up charges of financial impropriety.

Let's be careful, Jim. "Trumped up?" If you were taken seriously, you might get yourself in trouble for your own allegations. As it is, relax. You're not.

Sometimes they listen?

Just last June, my friend Bill Cotter, among others, got a bit hot under the collar when he learned that, not only was the recently removed Father Walter Cuenin planning to participate in Boston's infamous "Gay Pride Parade," but encouraged his parishioners to do so.

So he wrote Archbishop O'Malley.

He received, in early July, from former interim Archbishop and current Vicar General Richard Lennon this reply.

Bill sent this letter, along with an explanatory note, to Lisa Wangsness of the Boston Globe. I hope she reports it and the paper prints it. As Bill put it:

"The removal of Father Cuenin was years overdue. I hope the archbishop makes it clear that a financial technicality was not the reason that Father Cuenin was removed, lest it seem that his (Father Cuenin's) unwillingness to uphold the moral teachings of the Church is of secondary importance."

Again, please remember to pray for Father Cuenin and his former parishioners.

Father Cuenin resigns. Financial "flap" blamed

Good grief.

Father Walter Cuenin evidently screwed up big time, and so did his "financial council."

Again, pray for this guy and for his parishioners.

Here's a mystery for you:

Why in Father Walter Cuenin still the pastor of one of the largest Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston?

From "The Pastor's Corner" in this week's Our Lady, Help of Christians bulletin:

One of the hallmarks of this parish is its hospitality. We
try to welcome all people. As I often say at Christmas
and Easter “We welcome divorced and remarried,
single, never married, happily married. We welcome
gay and straight and Catholics who are devout and
Catholics who are barely holding on.” We have made a
special effort to welcome gay and lesbian persons and
their families. The parish is blessed to have many
couples, some now legally married, as members of the
community. They come on Sundays and are raising
their children in the faith. Their marriage seems to have
been a good experience for them. It doesn’t appear that
anyone’s marriage has been threatened or compromised
by the 1800 gay marriages that have already taken place
in the past year. There are, however, those who are
opposed to gay marriage including the Massachusetts
Conference of Catholic Bishops. They are encouraging
Catholics to sign a petition for an amendment that
would define marriage as a union of a man and women.
Some see this as a good way to protect marriage.
I am placing at the doors of the church the forms the
Archdiocese has sent for those who may want to sign
and register their opposition to gay marriage. But we
will not do any signing of petitions in our church as we
follow that rule for all issues. Catholics differ on these
matters and we need to respect the rights of all.
Wherever you as an individual may stand on this issue,
we must do all the we can to work for the dignity of gay
people and for the protection of their rights. They must
always feel welcome in our community.

Please pray for this priest and his parishioners. And for the Archdiocese of Boston, as long as you're at it.

Thank you.

P.S. The thing, darn it all, is that I didn't use any subterfuge in getting this. The parish regularly uploads its bulletin every week.

I don't know...it's almost as if Father ("call me Walter") Cuenin is deliberately baiting his superiors -- in this case, Archbishop Sean O'Malley -- for what? Attention?

It certainly isn't the first time Father Cuenin has bucked Church teaching publicly. He's known for it. It's his bleepin' trademark for Heaven's sake. Yet nobody in charge seems to stop him. Why not? It's bewildering to me because I care about him and his parishioners. Of course I do! We're supposed to care about the welfare of each other, spiritually as well as physically.

Who's taking charge of the spiritual health of Father Walter Cuenin and his flock?

By the way, you can, if you want, get the entire bulletin in PDF format, by clicking here.

(And I apologize for the long "P.S.")

When you get angry with a bishop...

...try turning to Saint Matthew.

Matthew. Creepy tax collector, turned disciple, turned apostle, turned evangelist, turned martyr, turned saint.

Maybe his conversion wasn't as spectacular as, say, Saint Paul's. There was no "blinding light," no thundering words, no drama.

Just two words: "Follow me."

But, as the priest at today's Mass reminded us, Matthew wasn't a mindless robot. In today's Gospel, (Mt 9:9-13) written by this same man, inspired by God, we learn that Matthew did more than follow Christ. He invited his fellow tax collectors and sinners to his house for a meal, to come and "sit with Jesus and His disciples."

He invited sinners like him and like me and perhaps even like you to expose themselves to God made man. And then trusted Jesus do the rest.

Frustrated with a bishop? Scandalized by his words or behavior?

We can rant. We can rave. Perhaps sometimes we should do so.

But we can also ask for Saint Matthew to intercede on this bishop's behalf.

And we can also imitate Matthew by simply leading our fellow sinners to the presence of Christ...and then trust Jesus to do the rest.

Miracle of San Gennaro Repeated

Today is the feast of Saint Janarius -- or San Gennaro -- the patron saint of Naples. I knew little, if anything, about the martyr until Mass today, where, among other things, I learned that his blood, indeed, miraculously liquified today.

There is, of course, no obligation to believe in the miracle of San Gennaro's blood. As the article indicates, some people believe that the liquification occurs due to shaking the vial containing it, or by the warmth of the holder's hands.

(Maybe so, but it'd be kinda tough, I'm thinking, to keep up the farce for hundreds of years.
And, on the other hand, scientists have examined the vial's contents, have determined that it is, indeed, blood, and are at a loss to explain why it liquifies on certain days...and on other days, it does not.)

If the liquification is, indeed, a miracle, what does that mean to us? Why does the Lord allow such things?

I don't know. I doubt very seriously that what occurred in Naples today would move a staunch atheist into sudden conversion.

And I would hope that, were the miracles to simply stop, that the people of Naples would not lose their faith.

Maybe that's all it's really about: faith. For me, the event at Naples only seems to remind me that my faith isn't really my faith -- it's a gift from God to me. And that for the good of my soul, it seems sensible to pray that it increases. "Lord, I do believe...help me in my unbelief."

Saint Januarius, bishop and martyr: pray for us.

Apostolic Visit Questions: 6 out of 56 "must be answered"

From the Instrumentum Laboris for the Apostolic Visitation of the Seminaries and Houses of Priestly Formation in the United States of America:

"The following questions are provided as a guide for the Visitors. In drawing up their Report for the Holy See, they should follow the eleven headings indicated below. A particular question need not be addressed if the Visitors deem it to be inapplicable, although some questions -- as indicated in the text -- must always be answered. Furthermore the questions are not to be considered exhaustive. The Visitors are to use their judgement when carrying out the individual Visitations."

Out of the approximately 56 questions in the document, only 6 "must be answered." Here they are:

• Is psychological testing employed in the admissions process? If so, give full details.
• Do the seminarians or faculty members have concerns about the moral life of those living in the institution?
• Is there evidence of homosexuality in the seminary?
• In the judgment of the Visitors, does the seminary provide adequate formation that will enable the seminarians to live celibate chastity?
• Are the seminarians capable of dialoguing, on the intellectual level, with contemporary society? Do their studies help them respond to contemporary subjectivism and, in particular, to moral relativism?
• In particular, does the seminary check for the presence of impediments or irregularities for Holy Orders (cf. CIC can. 1040-1049; CCEO can. 762-768), especially in the case of late vocations? [Kelly note: the answer to this question must be "full and detailed."]

There is little doubt in my mind that these are important questions, and certainly should be answered as unambiguously as possible.

What is vaguely troubling to me, as I've indicated before, are the questions that "need not be addressed" if the "Visitors" deem them "inapplicable."

Questions regarding faculty members dissenting from the authoritive teaching of the Church, seminarians participating in daily Mass, frequent opportunities for Adoration, frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, devotion to Our Lady...all of these and more are left to the discretion of the Visitors.

It could be, of course, and I hope it is, a reasonable directive. As in:

"Well, it's obvious to me that there's no dissent going on here, so we'll just skip this one."

It could be.

Here's the document in .pdf format. Thanks to Amy for the link.

Can't you just send a check?

Call me cynical...

("you're a cynic, Kelly")

...but, by and large, I've often felt that people who "walk" for causes or wear "ribbons" for causes are pretty much saying to the world:

I Care More Than You Do.

Hey, I could be wrong. But consider this.

In the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan (my home state), Catholics are asked not to participate in this year's "CROP" walk. Why?

Because the event organizer, Church World Service, spends a portion of its money on condoms to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa.

"We don't think Catholics should be entangled with organizations that support activities contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church,'' said diocese spokesman Michael Diebold.

Makes sense to me.

So does this:

"The church has a clear position,'' said the Rev. Brendan Walsh, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dexter. Artificial contraception "is against the natural order of how God intended man and woman to procreate,'' he said. "It's putting hand of man where hand of God belongs.''

However, this doesn't:

Still, Walsh said, his parish will participate in the walk and designate the donations for Catholic Relief Services, a charity arm of the Catholic Church that organizes disaster aid around the world.

Again...can't they just get together and send a bleepin' check?

"This question must be answered"

Dom blogs about the long overdue apostolic visitation to U.S. seminaries and makes some good points. My ears pricked up, though, on the wording of some questions seminaries will be asked, according to a document leaked to the New York Times:

¶"Is there a clear process for removing from the seminary faculty members who dissent from the authoritative teaching of the church or whose conduct does not provide good example to future priests?"

¶"Is the seminary free from the influences of New Age and eclectic spirituality?"

¶"Do the seminarians or faculty members have concerns about the moral life of those living in the institution? (This question must be answered)."

¶"Is there evidence of homosexuality in the seminary? (This question must be answered)."

I smell a problem. If the second two questions "must be answered," that presumes that the first two are optional. And that's all wrong, in my view.

Shouldn't the issues addressed by the first two questions -- dissenting faculty members and whacko "spirituality" -- be at least of equal concern than the second two?

Mother of Sorrows

In the late 15th century, today's feast was placed in the Roman Missal under the name "Our Lady of Compassion," to meditate on the enormous love Our Lady showed in suffering with her Son. ("Compassion" comes from the Latin words cum and patior, meaning "to suffer with.")

The date following the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross was set by Pope Pius X. At that time, the day was called the "Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary." While the name is now shortened, it is a good thing, I think, to reflect on these Seven Sorrows:

Simeon's prophecy at the Presentation

The flight into Egypt

The loss of the Child Jesus for three days

Mary meets her Son on the road to Calvary

Jesus dies on the Cross

Mary receives the dead Body of Jesus

Jesus is laid in the tomb

At the Cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.

(A chaplet devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows can be found here.)

Lift High the Cross!

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Triumph of the Cross.

The feast actually commemorates two different celebrations.

First, we celebrate the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena (mother of Constantine) in the year 320.

We also celebrate the return of the True Cross to Jerusalem in the year 627. It had been stolen by the Persians some six years earlier, and its return was, naturally, a cause of great jubilation.

At my parish Church, two huge opposing stained glass windows depict both events. The second one is my favorite...it depicts a story well worth remembering as we recall the divinely humble obedience Christ showed on the Cross we celebrate today.

It seems that, after the return of the True Cross, the Emperor Heraclius, wearing his kingly robes and regal crown, tried to carry the Cross into the temple. Instead of accomplishing this, he found himself utterly paralyzed. Seeing this, the Jerusalem Patriarch Macharios urged the Emperor to humble himself as Christ had done, by removing his imperial vesture. Heraclius did this (the window shows the Emperor in green underclothes, his royal garments piled on nearby steps) and entered the Temple with ease.

According to one account, "all the faithful desired to see the Cross of the Lord and to venerate it." The Patriarch Macharios "took the Cross onto a raised platform and lifted it on high, `exalting' it, for all to see. The people fell to their knees, bowing down before the Cross and crying out repeatedly: `Lord have mercy!'"

Since that time, the feast has been observed by the Church "in all parts of the world, for which reason it is called the `Universal Exaltation.'"

We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world!

Great advice from Augustine!

"Try to acquire those virtues which you think your brothers lack, and you will no longer see their defects, because you will not have them yourselves."

Saint Augustine

I read this in a commentary on today's Gospel (Luke 6:39-42). Jesus talks about "the blind leading the blind" and asks that amazing question: "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your eye?"

Which brings me to my own "Confessions."

I don't know about you, but I can stand just about anything from another person except a lie. I hate lies, and make no bones about it.

What makes this really weird is that I'm a great liar myself. Oh, don't get me wrong...I don't lie about "important" things (although who am I to say what's "important" or not?). It's more like a nasty habit...like using the "F" word when you blow a tire, or your cat jumps into your bowl of fresh pasta.

Mostly my lies are stupid and unnecessary. Worse, sometimes I actually feel virtuous about my lies.

For example, let's say I see a girl wearing an attractive dress. Or a guy sporting a very cool necktie.

Now I could just say to the girl, "hey, nice dress!" Or to the guy, "great tie!"

But I find myself -- often! -- "enhancing" my compliments. Rather than just offering a compliment on said dress or tie, I'm likely to embroider a bit, as in:

"I saw a movie with Meg Ryan wearing a dress really similar to yours, and you look tons better in it than she ever did."

Or:

"You know that tie you're wearing? I swear I saw that same pattern in a Brooks Brothers catalog and the model wearing it doesn't even come close to looking as good as you do right now."

Couple of problems with the above examples...in the three Meg Ryan movies I've seen, I've never even noticed what she wore. And I not only do not peruse Brooks Brothers catalogs...I don't even know if they issue them.

You're probably asking yourself one of two things:

1.) "Why am I reading this bilge?"

or

2) "So? What's the harm?"

I can't answer Question Number One, but I can tell certainly address Question Number Two.

The answer is, since I'm a liar myself, I tend to look for lies in others. And that's no good. It's a habit as bad as, or even worse than, lying. "It takes one to know one" might be a terrific adage, but I'm doubting its veracity. (There I go again!)

So, under the "What I Learned Today" list, is simply this...I've gotta stop with the lying. No lie is harmless, no sin benign.

Because if I don't stop, I'll never quite stop seeing flaws in others (while oblivious to my own defects.)

Thank you for reading this. Personally, I think you're the best reader since...uh, never mind. But thanks!

Happy Birthday, Mother of God...

...and our own Blessed Mother!

"Tough Call?" Same-sex "marriage" in California

(09-07) 18:16 PDT SACRAMENTO, (AP) --

For Assemblyman Simon Salinas — a moderate, middle-ground hugging Democrat — deciding how to vote on the gay marriage bill was a stark proposition.

"On the one hand, the people have voted for Prop. 22, they've said that marriage is between a man and a woman," Salinas, who is eyeing a run for higher office, said Wednesday. "On the other, I've always been a strong supporter of civil rights. Sometimes you just have to make unpopular decision. I just figured it was time."

Why do I get the feeling that someobody's pulling my leg, here?

Umberg, D-Anaheim, is running for Senate in Orange County and said he came to his decision after being turned off by the overblown rhetoric on both sides.

A Catholic, Umberg said he felt pressure from his church and was urged by Orange County Auxiliary Bishop Jaime Soto to oppose the bill.

Good for Bishop Soto!

"He said that the majority of my constituents do not support gay marriage, and he hoped that I would not succumb to the more extreme elements who were supporting the bill," Umberg said.

Uh...okay, Excellency, but did you tell him that it was also against Catholic teaching? What does the "majority of constituents" have to do with it?

(Although to be fair, the AP story is quoting only Umberg...not Bishop Soto.)

Ah, but here we have the real influence...

In the end, it was his 22-year-old daughter, a senior at Stanford, who made the most persuasive argument.

"She told me to think of what it meant in terms of history," he said. "It was a personal decision."

Of course! Whenever one is confronted between right and wrong, one must think of one's decision "in terms of history!"

Where in (you should forgive the term) heaven's name did I get the notion that one should think of salvation???

Give that 22-year-old Stanford student a Gold Star!

Sheesh.

Maybe I'm missing something?

No, I don't for a minute believe that Hurricane Katrina was sent by God to punish immoral behavior.

(However, I'm half-way convinced that God might've sent the The Big Dig to Boston for a similar reason, but that's another issue altogether.)

But what's with this?

And, even more perplexing, this?

Oremus pro invicem.

Red Cross. Other options.

I'm not always sure what's right. But I've got a pretty good idea if something's wrong.

In the days following Katrina, CNN and other mainstream media are directing us to donate to the American Red Cross. That's fine...and if it were the only avenue available to us, that would be more than fine, it would be pretty much mandatory to anyone with a conscience.

Just one problem is this...

Again, if the only avenue of aid was the Red Cross, I wouldn't even post this. The Red Cross has been, in its 200+ year history, an amazing organization. Founded by Clara Barton, the Red Cross has aided literally millions of people in an incredible number of ways -- from collecting needed blood to helping victims of disasters both natural and man-made...the list goes on.

Thankfully, there are, if you prefer, other ways to give your money to help Katrina's victims. I've posted -- or rather the Summa Mamas and others have posted -- a variety of worthy groups dedicated (as I'm sure the Red Cross is!) to helping folks cope with this disaster.

So I figured I'd let you know. On the one hand I feel rather squirmy in doing this. On the other hand I don't know what else I could have done. On the third hand (yeah, yeah, I know I'm only allowed two) I wish I hadn't heard about this.

Hey, I'm human!

(Thanks -- I think! -- to Jeanne for the head's up.)

Motown takes a leaf from Beantown's book

I live in Boston, but I was born and raised in Detroit. Much of my family still lives there, or in the surrounding areas. Given that, an article on possible parish closings in the Archdiocese of Detroit interested me, particularly this quote:

"We will have some control of our destiny," said Tom Kyle, secretary of the Elephants in the Living Room, one of the two groups that plans to replicate some of the vigil strategies used in the Boston Archdiocese, which reversed three church closures announced in 2003.

Way to go, Boston! Sheesh.

Read the whole article if you want to, but allow me few observations.

Some other quotes of note:

[Rev. Tom]Lumpkin is among more than 300 Metro Detroit priests, nuns and parishioners in two groups who are rallying to prevent what they fear will be another round of church closings in Detroit and older suburbs.

And from the Rev. Norman Thomas:

"The greatest sacrament of all is community."

(No, I didn't make that up. Yes, I know what, or rather Who, the greatest Sacrament is.)

This one cracked me up:

[The dissident's document] questioned whether the planning was also driven by white residents' flight from the city and racism.

Huh? "White flight" began in Detroit in the late 1950s, for crying out loud! By the 1960s the city was mostly black. Where have these people been?

But the Rev. Robert B. McGrath wins the award for the most "huh?" inspiring quote:

"...the church shouldn't take away its churches simply because its parishioners are no longer there."

I've read it six times and still can't figure that one out.

It took about 15 seconds of googling Fathers Lumpkin and Thomas that led me to a group known as "Catholics for the Common Good"... which evidently packed up its toys and went home after Bush won the last election.

Katrina: the most important donation for the victims

I've been asked to post links to those organizations to whom you should donate for the benefit of those who have survived the hurricane.

Others -- on the Internet, in the mainstream media, have already done so. You know how to find them. You've probably already made your monetary donations. God bless you for this.

At services tomorrow and on days to come, I certainly hope, opportunities will be offered to contribute still more.

I've been a bit haunted, though, by the lack of one intention that, perhaps understandably in all the chaos, has been neglected: the souls of those who have died in this hurricane.

And so, yes, I'm asking you to do something for the victims of hurricane Katrina:

Arrange for Masses for the souls of the dead. Do it tomorrow, do it during the week, do it sometime soon.

Arrange for them publically, with a donation of you can. Arrange for them privately, as you certainly are able to do free of charge. ("Jesus, I offer this Mass for the souls of those who have died during the hurricane Katrina.")

Pray, offer Masses, Rosaries, and other gifts for the dead of this disaster.

Don't even consider being thanked for it here on earth. You will, I promise, be thanked and rewarded in a way neither you nor I can ever expect or imagine to be.

Do not feel obligated to broadcast your gift -- spiritually, or materially -- to this world. Just please, please, do it.

Other people -- perhaps even you -- are giving money, diapers, water, toys, food, and all those things which are really important to those who have survived. That's great. But that's not enough.

I'm asking you to give something to those who can't ask for anything. You can do this. I'm begging you to do this.

Thank you.

Planned Parenthood takes in millions in morning-after pill sales

WASHINGTON -- When the Food and Drug Administration on Aug. 26 delayed its decision on whether emergency contraception pills could be purchased without a prescription, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America called it ''a terrible day for women's health."

When the FDA's top women's health advocate resigned in protest, Planned Parenthood applauded her response to what it called ''the agency's shameful failure to uphold its public health responsibility."

And the group's Massachusetts affiliate said FDA inaction adds urgency to enacting ''our own emergency contraception legislation at the state level."

But none of the public announcements mentioned that the national not-for-profit organization reaps millions of dollars in revenue by dispensing Plan B, the morning-after pill that has embroiled the FDA in controversy.

Full story here.

"I believe in the resurrection of the body...

With their first priority on aiding the living, authorities said they expect the effort to recover bodies will take many more days or even weeks.

...and life everlasting. Amen."

If we don't believe this, we're screwed.

Believe it. It's the truth.

And don't be afraid.

"Kelly, admit it. You're scared as hell."

Okay I am. But I'm not afraid. Somehow there's a difference. It's called "trust."

Another stupid "Gas Strike" e-mail in my inbox

And, you know, it's pretty aggravating. The idea (and if it sounds familiar it's because it's made the rounds for at least the last three years, if memory serves) is that on a particular day, everybody abstains from purchasing vehicle fuel, which will thus cripple the Big Bad Oil Companies and that nasty old ogre, "The Government."

Some nuggets of breathless stupidty include:

If each of us sends this e-mail out to ten more people within one day, 300 MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next eight days!

No. If each of us sends this junk out to ten more people within one day, each of us will have succeeded in seriously annoying ten more people.

This is imperative for everyone to participate to show the government (who is making a huge profit from us) that we are not going to stand for this!!!!

What is imperative is not to flood my mailbox with junk like this.

Now, I know you aren't dumb enough to fall for this, but in case you know somebody who is -- and you have the patience to deal with this person -- tell him or her this:

1.) It won't work. "Boycotts" organized via e-mail never have worked. Why? Because they're not organized.

2.) The "one day" aspect is absurd. If I virtuously abstain from buying gas on, say, September 5 (the date manadated on the note I just received), I'll probably buy it on September 6.

How do things like this get started, anyway?

As we continue to pray...

The Summa Mamas warn of "low-life scum trying to profit from other peoples' tragedies are already ramping up. There have been reports of fake web-sites and e-mails soliciting donations for hurricane victims."

Check them out for a list of reputable links for donations.

Okay. Tell me I'm a grouchy lady.

Now tell me what's wrong with this "heart warming" story.

"After we heard whose money it was and the situation, we were extremely glad that we made the choice to give it back," Morrone said. "We knew it was the right choice."

Demographic Deficit

I remember -- I swear I do -- people lamenting about the "population explosion" as if that were a horrible thing. More people on earth, I mean.

Thank God for the Holy Father and for for cryin' out loud (no pun intended) would you married people quit with the "birth control" and "be fruitful and multiply?"

Thank you.

The Boss and the Bible?

A Marxist Perspective on 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' and The Boss and the Bible are among the academic papers to be presented when a New Jersey university hosts an academic symposium devoted entirely to US rock singer Bruce Springsteen.

I confess. I'm a Springsteen fan. But this is a bit much.

Papers will be presented by a Lutheran minister, a Roman Catholic theologian, Wall Street analyst and the principal of a private school in Washington.

Sounds like a joke...a minister, a Catholic, an analyst and a principal walk into a bar...ah well, never mind.

But why are they doing this? Why are they holding an international academic conference on Bruce Springsteen?

"He was always shooting for something higher - some broader socio-cultural theme," Kenneth Womack, one of the organisers and an Associate Professor of English at Pennsylvania State University, said.

Oh. Okay. (?)

Cute typo:

"I hope its not too 'fan-ish'," Ass Prof Womack said.

Dom Bettinelli gets editor spot at CWR Magazine

As of September 1, Dom Bettinelli will be the new editor of Catholic Word Report Magazine, replacing Phil Lawler who will remain as editor emeritus, and who plans to write an interesting book.

Prayers and best wishes to all concerned.

Need office supplies? Visit the monks!

The Laser Monks' site is so cool you might want to check it out, even if you don't want to save money on toner and ink cartridges.

(Thanks to Jeanne.)

Blessed Sacrament stolen from parish tabernacle

There are several "official" definitions of "hate crimes," but they generally follow the Anti-Defamation League's description:

"Any crime committed because of the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation."

Last Thursday, the Blessed Sacrament was stolen from a tabernacle at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Lynn, Massachusetts.

The "incident" is being handled as a larceny.

I don't get it. Why isn't it being handled as a hate crime?

Imagine what would happen -- and please, God, I pray it doesn't -- if, say, a synagogue experienced the theft or desecration of its Torah.

What if somebody stole into a mosque -- and please God, I pray nobody does -- and destroyed the Koran?

In Massachusetts and in the majority of these United States, such acts would be treated as hate crimes.

But when the very Essence of Catholicism is attacked, it's treated as a simple "larceny?"

When humans act like animals

Professor Bainbridge and Dom both comment today on what I've long felt to be a dangerous trend...the acceptance of so-called "animal rights activists" as "caring" people.

The credo among these folks seems to be devastatingly simple:

Animals are better than human beings.

From a fellow pew guy on Confession

I got this today regarding a recent blog on Confession -- the subject? "Powerful Words."

"God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church. May God grant you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.''

Let us meditate on the power of these words. When they are spoken by a priest (another Christ), simultaneosly with the Sign of the Cross, we are reborn into the grace of God. Heaven's gate is opened for us. That is awesome power. Now we once again try to change our lives by a firm purpose of amendment, doing penance, and concentrating on a spiritual direction in our lives.

Thank you, my Marine in the Pew! (Not his real name...his real name is Joe.)

JAMA editor defends article...sorta

Friday, August 26, 2005

BY LINDSEY TANNER

Associated Press

CHICAGO -- Catherine DeAngelis is a staunch Roman Catholic, used to give Holy Communion to her patients and says she strongly opposes abortion.

So the Journal of the American Medical Association's editor in chief says she had to take a walk around the block after receiving dozens of "horrible, vindictive" e-mails condemning her for publishing an article that says fetuses likely don't feel pain until late pregnancy.

"One woman said she would pray for my soul," DeAngelis said yesterday. "I could use all the prayers I can get."

Starts out pretty good...gee, maybe I was wrong. Except for this (it's pretty close to the end of the article)"

DeAngelis said she attends Mass at least weekly and also is a Eucharistic minister, which allows her to administer Communion to fellow Catholics. She said that while she opposes abortion, she also supports a woman's right to choose.

Uh-huh. Got it.

There's nothing quite like the face...

...of a kid after making his or her First Confession.

No amount of reassurance can convince the kid beforehand not to be nervous. Do you remember your First Confession? I do...and despite everything the nuns and priests told me, I was scared!

But afterward -- today I saw 10 kids seemingly float out of the confessional, eager as anything to fly to the Tabernacle and pray their penance.

One little girl summed it up for me:

"I'm so much lighter now!"

Yup. Sin's a heavy thing, a shackle that keeps one as enslaved as the Israelites in Egypt. Only reconcilation to Jesus -- via the Sacrament -- can set us free.

Unborn babies' pain study "provokes controversy"

CHICAGO - (KRT) - A controversial research article about when fetuses feel pain is sparking a heated debate about the nexus between science and politics and what information authors should disclose to scientific journals.

The report, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, analyzed previously published research and concluded that fetuses probably don't feel pain until 29 weeks after conception because of their developing brain structures.

Yeah?

Undisclosed was the fact that one of the five authors runs an abortion clinic at San Francisco's public hospital while another author worked temporarily more than five years ago for an abortion rights advocacy group.

Yeah.

I'm wondering about the "developing brain structures" who bought into this pile of...uh..."research."

Well, we didn't quite make it to the Red Sea...

...but we did — finally — get out of Egypt!

It was the plagues that sorta slowed me down. The kids simply could not get over the fact that the Egyptian water turned to blood. "Ewwwwww."

Observing the small classes was interesting. Sister Celeste chose to illustrate the nature of God's forgiveness via the Prodigal Son parable. When she got to the part where the guy was reduced to eating what even the pigs wouldn't eat, one bright fellow wondered aloud:

"How come he didn't just kill the pigs and eat them?"

In the class for the pre-schoolers, they talked about their guardian angels. They made paper "angels" to share with the other kids..."angels" that bore a remarkable resemblance to paper airplanes. One went flying out the window into the rectory parking lot, barely missing a parish priest.

Tomorrow is "field trip" day -- a trip to nearby Castle Island in South Boston. Wish I could join them, but, alas, work awaits. Class resumes, God willing, on Thursday.

"Women's Press" shoots self in foot?

Correct me if I'm wrong.

But after reading this article and then the comments that follow it, does it not seem to you that perhaps the Minnosota Women's Press -- along with its story star...the newly ordained "Catholic Deacon Regina Nicolosi" -- made complete idiots out of themselves?

Moses Update

At this writing, Moses and the Chosen Folk are still in Egypt. Wishful thinking on my part, I guess, but I'd hoped to have gotten them into the desert by the end of today's session. No dice.

Lemme give you an idea of the set up.

We all meet at around 9:00 AM. Opening prayers confer blessings, songs confer enthusiasm. Then I get my hour to spiel. (That would be an hour in psychiatrist's terms: read about 40 minutes.)

I'm convinced that the reason Moses et al are still in Egypt has much to do with the kids' fascination with his survival as an infant. Flabbergasted were they to learn that Hebrew boy-kids were, by law, killed at birth. Okay, the boys were perhaps a tad more chagrined than their female counterparts, but all were pretty ticked off...and delighted by how Moses' mom and sister saved his tush and got him into the palace to boot. Anyway, that delayed things, but that's okay...it was a good pro-life moment. (Hey, I happened to overhear a bit of talk about "designer babies.")

When my time's up, the kids break up into smaller groups, mostly according to age, and are taught by the catechists. After sneaking out to gulp some coffee, I sorta float around, eavesdropping on -- no, wait, wrong word, make that observing the progress of -- the small classes.

After recess -- a favorite time for all, including yours truly -- the classes resume for maybe a half an hour or so. Then we all get together and each class shows off -- nope, wrong word again, let's make that share -- what they've learned. Final prayers, a blessing from a parish priest, and that's it for the day.

Tomorrow, God willing, God will let His people go. 'Course, we've got the plagues to get through -- one little fellow informed me, quite firmly I thought, that he was especially looking foward to the frogs -- then Passover, the final plague, and at least we should be halfway through the Red Sea before long.

Prayers are deeply appreciated!

Pleased to meet you...

As I was putting the finishing touches on my first presentation for Vacation Bible School tomorrow morning, I was serenaded by Mick and the boys by Sympathy for the Devil.

Ooo, whoo.

I have no intention of running to the shelter of my "Mother's Little Helper," nor am I on my way to my "19th Nervous Breakdown." Nevertheless, some prayers are needed. I heard, although I can't confirm it at this point, that a woman was injured at the concert. I pray it's not serious, or even that it didn't happen.

Speaking o' prayers, I'd appreciate them for tomorrow. Hey, did you know that Moses is a saint in the Catholic tradition?

Father Zuhlsdorf is a very cool guy.

The Rolling Stones...

...are now rockin' away at Fenway Park. They started out, appropriately enough, with "Start Me Up."

I can hear them and I live in Roxbury. Wonder what the Fenway folks are doing? (The neighborhood folks, not the ones in the stands.)

They said they'd stop at 11:00 pm and -- I know this makes me sound old -- I sorta hope they do.

From an AP story:

The tour may well test the band's stamina. After all, the three remaining original Stones, Jagger, Richards and drummer Charlie Watts, are 62, 61 and 64 respectively. Guitarist Ron Wood, now going on 30 years touring with the band, is the baby of the bunch at 58.

Wow.

Think about Moses for a minute: suggestions welcomed!

Moses is the topic of a 4-day sort of seminar I'm leading for about 30-40 kids beginning on Monday. I've got the basic course all set, naturally, but I'm looking for more suggestions to connect his life to stuff going on today. The students range from kids prepping for First Confession to Confirmation candidates. (I know, it's odd, but strangely enough, it's worked in the past.)

For example: last year we focused on John the Baptist. The DRE insists on Old Testament figures -- and, I've come to believe, with some good reasons -- and I was able to draw on him as the last of the old time prophets, so to speak.

What worked so well with The Baptizer is that I was able to draw from his life two important issues: the reality of life in the womb ("the babe leapt") and his defense (to his death) of marriage.

I'd like to do something similar, using Moses as our guide.

So what I guess I'm asking is this: in what ways do you think the life of Moses can teach kids (and adults) about what we, as Church and as individuals, are facing today?

God willing, I'll let you know how it turns out, but if you've got some light to shine, by all means...turn the lamp on!

Thank you!

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal...

...with her spiritual director, Saint Francis de Sales, founded the Visitation Nuns in France is 1610. (Yes, I know this link takes you to Philadelphia!)

The life of Saint Jane Frances is a fascinating and inspiring one. A beautiful woman, a rich baroness, a mother of several children, a young widow, Saint Jane wanted to join a Carmelite monastery after the tragic death of her young husband in a hunting accident.

Her spiritual director, Francis de Sales, had another idea...he urged her to found a new order for women whose circumstances -- primarily age and physical health -- prevented them from acceptance in the religious orders of the day.

Her nearly chronic suffering from spiritual "darkness" did not -- perhaps could not -- keep Saint Jane from productive work and fidelity to God and His Church. Her memorial is celebrated on August 18.

Read more about Saint Jane Frances de Chantel here...with a bonus on a 15-year-old martyr.

Brother Roger...R.I.P.

Adieu, Frere Schutz. May his soul rest in peace with the Prince of Peace.

61 year old nun blasts "Da Vinci Code" movie...through prayerful protest

You go, Sister!

From the Daily Mail:

Asked if she thought the people making the film would care about her protest, she said: "I don't suppose they do, but that doesn't matter tuppence to me. It matters to me what God thinks, not what the film crew think.

"When I face Almighty God, at my final judgment, as we all will, I can say, I did try my best, I did try my best to protest."

Two heterosexual men decide to get married

Two single heterosexual men in Ottawa have decided to "marry" each other...and a gay activist is in a snit about the whole thing.

I wonder if this will catch on in Massachusetts?

As my friend Jeanne puts it (thanks for the link, Jeanne):

"When you make laws against discrimination, I guess you, er, well, can't discriminate."

Swan Fake?

In its continuing effort to glorify homosexuality, the Boston Globe gives us...a "same-sex swan couple."

Boston's beloved pair of swans -- feted by city leaders, residents, and tourists alike as one of the Hub's most celebrated summer attractions -- are a same-sex couple. Yes, scientific tests have shown that the pair, named Romeo and Juliet, are really Juliet and Juliet.

(You have to look hard to find out that the City of Boston only orders female swans for its Public Gardens, since the males are aggressive and could be a threat to tourists.)

Blessed be her glorious Assumption!

For which reason, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit of Truth, for the glory of Almighty God who has lavished his special affection upon the Virgin Mary, for the honor of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages and the Victor over sin and death, for the increase of the glory of that same august Mother, and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church; by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma:

that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

from Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII, November 1, 1950.

May I present...

Mr. & Mrs. Domenico Bettinelli!

Ignore this if you want

I keep trying to edit a teeny typo in the post just below this one, but the Blogger People keep telling me that the "blog can't be found." So let's see if this shows up.

Good churches in Boston

Amy does this a lot. I don't, but a reader writes:

I was wondering if you could recommend any good churches in Boston, from both an architectural and devotional point of view.

My answer:

I'd start out with the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, from both points of view.

(Email the Keely Society for specific architectural information -- the link's on the website -- and tour information.)

Ditto for The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (a.k.a. "The Mission Church.") Its website is much more informative.

Devotionally, for Sunday Mass, there is Holy Trinity Church which celebrates the Latin Mass at noon (for now...it's slated for closing).

And devotionally, you simple can't go wrong with Saint Clement's Eucharistic Shrine.

Finally, for week-day Masses, I favor Saint Francis Chapel. Not for Sundays or holy days though -- it's totally different. The key word is "weekdays." Adoration begins after the 12:35 pm Mass...Benediction at 4:30 PM. Follows is the Rosary.

If all went according to plan...

Dominic Bettinelli and Melanie Scott were united in Holy Matrimony today, Saturday, August 13, 2005.

Unitas mirabile vinculum!

Why don't Catholics do stuff like this?

Today, two gentlemen knocked on my door. They explained that they were from the nearby Twelfth Baptist Church and wanted to "give folks a chance to get to know the congregation." To this end, they are planning an cook-out next Saturday afternoon for the whole neighborhood. FREE! (A favorite word in my book.)

Two questions: why is it the "Twelfth" Baptist Church?

But more important to me is...why don't Catholics do stuff like this?

Or maybe they do. My parish doesn't. We have events, but they're always for the parish members.

(Is this a question similar to "why don't Catholics sing?")

Okay, get it out of your system

He's accused (note "glamorous")

He quits.

He quits.

He's the "other man".

Saint Blog's is either having a ball with this one or...well, they're squirming.

A friend suggested prayer. Not a bad idea.

Okay, I've officially blogged on it.

Here's a question for you (don't let it spoil your weekend!)

Have you ever considered the fact that the facts aren't all they claim to be?

Or...

Have you ever found yourself (not publicly) in the Monsignor's position...or his secretary's?

I'd be interested. Because I have. Found myself in the secretary's position, I mean.

Am I an adulteress?

Fran Kissling blasts NARAL (no typo here)

From the (now pulled) NARAL ad:

"Supreme Court nominee John Roberts filed court briefs supporting violent fringe groups and a convicted clinic bomber... Call your senators. Tell them to oppose John Roberts. America can't afford a justice whose ideology leads him to excuse violence against other Americans."

Leaving the "violence against other Americans" ideological irony aside (I mean it's just so easy) here's another bit of irony for you.

Within the larger liberal coalition of which NARAL is a part, there was considerable uneasiness about the advertisement, although leaders of other groups generally refused to speak on the record. One who did, Frances Kissling, the longtime president of Catholics for a Free Choice, said she was "deeply upset and offended" by the ad, which she called "far too intemperate and far too personal."

Kissling, who initiated the conversation with a reporter, said the ad "does step over the line into the kind of personal character attack we shouldn't be engaging in." She added: "As a pro-choice person, I don't like being placed on the defensive by my leaders. NARAL should pull it and move on."

They pulled the ad. And, although I don't consider NARAL my "leaders," Fran, I agree with your statement here...although I believe the word "out" is preferable to "on."

Before hitting "forward," try a prayer instead. Chain letters are EVIL. Period.

I just got another "prayer wheel" email assuring me that if I forwarded it to at least 10 people, or, preferably "everybody in my address book" (duh) that God will indeed answer my prayer.

The implication — or in many cases, the outright statement — that if one doesn't forward said message, God will be Very Angry, or Very Hurt, or something equally as dire.

For Heaven's sake, people (if you don't do this sort of thing, please don't take this personally) STOP IT! What you're doing is making the Devil laugh his evil head off!

Chain letters -- and "prayer wheels" are included in this category regardless of how holy the intent seems to be -- are at best, annoying, but at worst, idolatrous.

Anyone who thinks he can manipulate God's Will by pressing the "forward" button is treading on dangerous -- very dangerous -- territory.

When you get anything in your email box that instructs you to forward it to any number of people, do yourself, and the sender, a big favor.

First, delete the message. Remove the occasion of the sin of susperstition from your eyesight.

Then, say a real prayer. Direct it to God. He's listening, and He doesn't need a computer to get the message.

Update: I just got another one which reminded me of something else that is just plain wrong. God won't grant you your "wish" if you respond to any given email. Try and trust me on this one...God isn't a genie.

Sheesh! ;-)

A woman's vocation...

"After the life-and-death struggle of a World War, the nations of Europe have collapsed alongside one another. Whether a policy of international reconciliation will gradually prevail against strong counter-currents is impossible to predict with certainty. But one thing is clear: the issue involves women. If a woman's vocation is the protection of life and the preservation of the family, she cannot remain indifferent as to whether or not governments and nations assume forms which are favorable to the growth of the family and the well-being of the young."

Edith Stein, addressing a group of Catholic professional women following The Great War

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us.

And about Saint Dominic and the Rosary..

Since childhood, I've loved the notion -- true or tradition -- of Mary giving the Rosary to Saint Dominic. What I've gotta admit is that it was only today, at Mass during the sermon, that I learned the motivation for Mary's gift.

I'd never heard of the Albigensian heresy, nor the Manicheanism heresy for that matter. You probably have, but in any case, you might be interested in this link, and, for that matter, this website.

Please remember the Dominicans -- the Order of Preachers -- in your prayers.

Thanks!

Update: the link's fixed. Thanks, Dan!

Jesus cracks me up!

I love today's Gospel reading (Matthew 17:22-27). I didn't hear it at Mass today because the priest chose the readings for the Memorial of Saint Dominic, but I read it this morning.

Jesus again tells His disciples about his upcoming Passion and Resurrection, and the latter were "overwhelmed with grief."

Then, almost or maybe most definitely to cheer them up, He performs what might be described as a "fun miracle." A discussion with Simon Peter regarding the temple tax led to the conclusion that "subjects," meaning folks like Jesus and Peter, were technically exempt from the tax. But on the other hand, Jesus didn't like the idea of offending the tax collectors. So here's what He told Peter, the fisherman, to do:

"...go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and you."

Is that priceless or what???

Walsh authors bill to force church financial disclosure

The legislation, which would require all religious organizations to file annual financial reports and a list of real estate holdings with the attorney general's charities division, is opposed by the Catholic Church and major mainline Protestant denominations. It is being watched as a test of how much clout the archdiocese still retains with the state's political establishment.

I'm not sure if this is a bad idea or not, frankly. But I'm under no illusions about the bill's author.

Walsh's leadership on the issue is rooted in strong anger. Until recently she and other Catholic public officials never questioned the church, she said. ''There was acceptance of their moral authority."

When? I ask because of this.

About that Boston City Council referendum...

Remember that non-binding referendum against the Archdiocese of Boston the local wizards on the Boston City Council wanted to place on the ballot? (My tax dollars at work.)

Guess what. It's been shelved.

Of course it's been shelved...it did it's job by getting quoted in the two major Boston papers at least twice.

Former IRA bomber now a seminarian

The Boston Globe Magazine's cover story profiles a former Irish Republican Army terrorist (parenthetical comment -- interesting to see the Globe using the term "terrorist") now studying for the priesthood.

The cover itself blaringly headlines what evidently the Globe considers news:

"The Catholic Church believes no man is beyond salvation."

Duh.

The sentiment is repeated in the article's kicker:

He was a teenage terrorist. He tried to kill a bishop. After 14 years in prison, he got married. Now the Catholic Church wants him to become a priest. Is no man beyond salvation?

Judge for yourself the merits of the article, and the motivation, if any, behind it. But do so with all the facts. Here's what you won't find in the online version of the Globe Magazine, but will if you've got the hard copy:

When Globe reporter Kevin Cullen tracked down former terrorist Shane Paul O'Doherty at Ireland's last Catholic seminary, he wasn't sure the school would let him in. But when the silver-haired Cullen (below, at left, with O'Doherty), in his customary black pants and windbreaker, approached a guard, the man nodded and called him "Father." The mistake was a stroke of luck, because this week's cover story is one the church is not anxious to talk about and declined to cooperate with.

Okay, the reporter gets in under false pretenses. Some might call that dishonest from the get-go. Still, the seminarian evidently was okay with being profiled.

But what's with the "declined to cooperate with" slur? (Which is what it is.) And how is the Globe defining "church?"

The answer, if you want to call it that, is almost at the end of the multi-paged feature. (Please keep in mind that the seminarian once tried to murder a bishop, which is more than just a "no-no" when it comes to becoming a priest, and evidently requires a papal dispensation.)

The Rev. Kevin Doran, who recruits candidates for the priesthood for the Dublin Archdiocese, says O'Doherty was accepted last year with the understanding that neither he nor anyone in the Church would publicly discuss his story during his study for the priesthood. Doran, in an e-mail, says: "There is, undoubtedly a `story' in Shane's journey to seminary. The diocese has taken the view, however, that this is not the time to focus on that story."

The Boston Globe overruled the Dublin Archdiocese.

My question is this: did O'Doherty, whether intentionally or not, screw up his own candidacy? The wording in the beginning of the quoted paragraph is confusing. Does the "he" refer to Father Doran or to O'Doherty himself?

Another "spot the errors" article

Okay, let's call it a contest, but this time no way can I judge it (or give a prize for the winner, for that matter.)

But sheeesh!!!!

This piece has my head spinning.

Once again, we've got a Catholic, Senator Joe Biden, (who -- surprise! -- might run for the Big Spot) using his Catholicism to drag in the "separation of church and state" myth.

On the "intelligent design" stuff, I do hope that Father Bob Carr weighs in...for reasons pretty obvious when you visit his site. (Look at his book on the sidebar.)

Thanks to reader Deborah (who wants no credit) for the tip. (By the way, she's got some pretty good observations regarding the article, which I hope she'll post here.)

To get you started, let's begin with the end. Biden (evidently highly educated in the Norbertine tradition) says:

"When Jesus met Mary Magdalene, he didn't stone her," he said. "He invited her to dinner."

He's "not comfortable with intelligent design"

Rick Santorum, R. Pennsylvania, has a problem, apparently, with intelligence. Or, Intelligence.

"I'm not comfortable with intelligent design being taught in the science classroom."

This is plain wacky, with all due respect to the senator from Pennsylvania.

Evolution is a legitimate theory (and not inconsistent with Catholicism, by the way.)

Intelligent design can and should easily be seen as an equally legitimate theory, even to atheists.

Actually neither theory is incompatible with the other.

What's with Santorum?

Human Life: gifts from God. Susan and Susan Torres

"Her passing is a testament to the truth that human life is a gift from God and that children are always to be fought for, even if life requires-as it did of Susan-the last full measure of devotion."

Thank you, God, for Susan Michelle Rollin and Susan Anne Catherine Torres.

Galvin upset about cemeteries (Catholic ones, natch)

Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin has had some grave issues with the Archdiocese of Boston. (The story I'm linking to doesn't happen to mention that his parish got closed down.) The latest concerns are about, well, graves.

''The archdiocese has failed to keep its commitment, not only to the families, but to the deceased," Galvin said.

He got, apparently, a Boston Globe photographer to take pictures of two Catholic cemeteries. Several toppled headstones were discovered, along with some grass that hadn't been mown for awhile.

I've been, often, to at least one of the cemeteries Galvin's investigating and they're huge...and for the most part, beautiful. (I'm one of those nuts who likes cemeteries.)

Could be I'm all wet, but I'm thinking Galvin's digging, so to speak, into something that's a non issue.

But then, this is Boston.

For me, the most amazing thing about this story (and another one in the rival paper, The Boston Herald,) is that the words "sex," "abuse," or "scandal" don't appear.

Talismania continues!

Ellen and Mare contribute to our collection of talismanic terms with "Diversity" and "Religious Freedom," respectively. Nice job, ladies! (Check the comments box on the link and continue it in this post, if you'd like.)

Like a bat out of you know where!

Yikes!

I was in my little sitting room, reading a book (don't ask the title...there's a reason why I don't post a wonderful section called "What I'm Reading Now" on this blog) when all of the sudden a BAT appeared!

It was at least 12 feet wide (okay, maybe a wee bit smaller) and it eerily swooped around me, around my sitting room, into the connecting bedroom...it was horrible!

Bravely, I ran out of the room, shutting the doors (in order to protect the student who lives upstairs with me) and returned with a dust mop. This didn't do much good, I admit, but gamely I tried to cajole the monstrous thing into leaving my house while shouting encouragingly things like "Get lost!" and "Scram!" and what I thought was the foolproof "I'm not kidding!"

(Meanwhile, I tried very hard to shoo away thoughts about how bats get entangled in their prey's hair...and, of course, anything I've ever heard about vampire bats. Good grief.)

My downstairs neighbor, hearing the commotion, obligingly asked if I needed assistance. Shamelessly I shoved the mop at him, slammed the doors, and ran...uh...to, yeah, to check and see if my poor student roomer was okay. (I couldn't believe it...she was actually at her desk studying...as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on!)

As it turned out, the bat flew out the window. (Who the bleep knew you were supposed to open windows to get rid of bats and by the way, what the bleep are BATS doing in the city???)

I'd like to tie up this episode with some profound theological observation, but none leaps to mind.

Except of course the absolute necessity of praying to my Guardian Angel each and every night!

Contest Results

Thanks, everybody.

Before I name the winner, a couple of announcements.

Lee Ann gets the Miss Congeniality Award.

The quote that grabbed me the most was that of non-competitor Julie, who wrote:

"It's an extremely widespread idea that people can make all kinds of inappropriate remarks about the groups they are a part of, without 'technically' offending. It's a sort of `Let he who is of the same sin throw all the stones, but all the rest of y'all back off' thing."

Jim Belna's post is thoughtful, well put, and certainly worth the read. As he said, it was a "different take."

Patrick Coffin! You were doing fine until you went over the limit. That's what the "preview" button is for, as you well know! And never mind appealing to a higher authority!

Now, for the First Runner-Up. As you know, this is a very important, since, if for whatever reason, the Winner is unable to accept the title, it is the First Runner-Up who will assume the award. The First Runner-Up is..................

TSO! Good job, TSO.

And the winner is:

::::::::::drum roll:::::::::::

Septimus!

Thanks to all for participating.

The results are (almost) in!

Whew, what a night!

The judges fought, made up, fought again, threatened to sue me, the Church, the Archdiocese of Boston, (?) and the Good Lord knows who else before making a decision on who most accurately pointed out the errors in the Pew Lady's "Errors Contest."

Right now, while drinking horribly stale coffee and waiting for another pizza order to come in (and I hope the driver takes his time -- we're all so p.o.'d at each other that nobody's offered to pay for it) we all realize there's just one hope to break this hopeless stalemate.

When the fax from Rome comes in, I'll be reporting.

Meanwhile, this is Kelly Clark. Good night, and good pews.

Physicians more religious than expected, survey says

90 percent of doctors in the United States attend religious services at least occasionally, compared to 81 percent of all adults.

If I'm reading this right, more U.S. doctors go to church (or temple, or whatever) as a group than most U.S. adults as a whole.

This, I think, is good news.

Fifty-five percent of doctors say their religious beliefs influence how they practice medicine.

Ditto...I think. What do you think?

Here's the article.